Didar Ucar1, Nazım Yıldız2, Mustafa Hepokur3, Fatih Baltu1, Elvin Guliyev4, Murat Emul5, Ahmet Murat Sarıcı1. 1. a Department of Ophthalmology , İstanbul University, Medical School of Cerrahpasa , İstanbul , Turkey. 2. b Department of Psychiatry , İstanbul University, Medical School of Cerrahpasa , İstanbul , Turkey. 3. c Department of Ophthalmology , Kayseri Training and Research Hospital , Kayseri , Turkey. 4. d NPIstanbul Brain Hospital , Uskudar University , Istanbul , Turkey. 5. e Pedamed Psychiatry Center , Istanbul , Turkey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that the ongoing neurotrophic effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) might be detected in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: This study was conducted using a prospective design. The RNFL thickness alterations of 18 psychiatric patients undergoing ECT were assessed using OCT. The results were compared with the RNFL thicknesses of 18 age and gender-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: In the left eye, the average RNFL (p = 0.025), superior quadrant (p = 0.029), and nasal quadrant (p = 0.021) thicknesses were significantly increased after the last ECT treatment. In contrast to the right eye, the basal left-eye superior RNFL thickness (p = 0.038) and inferior quadrant (p = 0.007) thicknesses were significantly lower in the patients than in the healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Here, we have revealed a significant lateralized influence of ECT on the left-eye RNFL. However, larger case series should be conducted before interpreting our current findings.
BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that the ongoing neurotrophic effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) might be detected in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) using optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: This study was conducted using a prospective design. The RNFL thickness alterations of 18 psychiatricpatients undergoing ECT were assessed using OCT. The results were compared with the RNFL thicknesses of 18 age and gender-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: In the left eye, the average RNFL (p = 0.025), superior quadrant (p = 0.029), and nasal quadrant (p = 0.021) thicknesses were significantly increased after the last ECT treatment. In contrast to the right eye, the basal left-eye superior RNFL thickness (p = 0.038) and inferior quadrant (p = 0.007) thicknesses were significantly lower in the patients than in the healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Here, we have revealed a significant lateralized influence of ECT on the left-eye RNFL. However, larger case series should be conducted before interpreting our current findings.