Choroidal Thickness and microRNA146 in Lupus Nephritis Patients

Ocular fundus changes and association with systemic conditions in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs and systems. Ocular involvement is estimated to manifest in one-third of individuals with SLE, of which lupus retinopathy and choroidopathy represent the severe subtype accompanied by vision impairment. Advancements in multimodal ophthalmic imaging have allowed ophthalmologists to reveal subclinical microvascular and structural changes in fundus of patients with SLE without ocular manifestations. Both ocular manifestations and subclinical fundus damage have been shown to correlate with SLE disease activity and, in some patients, even precede other systemic injuries as the first presentation of SLE. Moreover, ocular fundus might serve as a window into the state of systemic vasculitis in patients with SLE. Given the similarities of the anatomy, physiological and pathological processes shared among ocular fundus, and other vital organ damage in SLE, such as kidney and brain, it is assumed that ocular fundus involvement has implications in the diagnosis and evaluation of other systemic impairments. Therefore, evaluating the fundus characteristics of patients with SLE not only contributes to the early diagnosis and intervention of potential vision damage, but also holds considerate significance for the evaluation of SLE vasculitis state and prediction of other systemic injuries.

Analysis of choroidal thickness in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus and its correlation with laboratory tests

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to investigate the alterations of choroidal thickness (CT) in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). We also aimed to assess whether CT parameters correlated with systemic health status in JSLE patients.

METHODS

JSLE patients and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were recruited. A detailed ophthalmological examination was applied to all participants. CT measurements were acquired in the macular region using EDI-OCT. Moreover, a spectrum of laboratory tests was examined to evaluate the systemic conditions, and the Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg cytokine profiles in the peripheral blood were also analyzed in JSLE group.

RESULTS

A total of 45 JSLE patients with no visual impairment and 50 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. CT values in the macular region were decreased in JSLE patients when compared with healthy controls, even adjusting for age, axial length and refraction. There were no significant correlations between CT and cumulative dose of hydroxychloroquine or duration of hydroxychloroquine use (all P > 0.05). The average macular, temporal and subfoveal CT in JSLE group was negatively correlated with IL-6 and IL-10 (all P < 0.05), but had no significant correlations with other laboratory results (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

JSLE patients without ocular involvement may have significant variations in choroidal thickness at the macular area. Choroidal alterations might be associated with the systemic cytokine profiles in JSLE.