Comparison of optical coherence tomographic findings between Behcet disease patients with and without ocular involvement and healthy subjects

Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to compare the retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, and the choroid thickness between patients with Behcet disease and healthy subjects by using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: Ninety eyes of 45 healthy subjects and 104 eyes of 52 patients with Behcet disease were included in this study. Rheumatoid factor and C-reactive protein levels were measured by blood testing in the patients. Results: The mean thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cells layer, and inner plexiform layer were significantly lower in patients with Behcet's disease than in the healthy subjects. The mean choroidal thickness was significantly higher in the patients than in the healthy subjects. Conclusions: SD-OCT was a useful and non-invasive tool for the detection of retinal nerve degeneration and choroidal changes in patients with Behcet disease even in the absence of ocular involvement.