Evaluation of macular, retinal nerve fiber layer and choroidal thickness by optical coherence tomography in children and adolescents with vitamin B-12 deficiency

Abstract

Purpose To investigate macular, Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) and choroidal thickness in children and adolescents with vitamin B-12 deficiency and no neurological examination finding. Methods The study group includes of thirty-three children aged 8-17 years who were brought to the Pediatric outpatient clinic with the symptoms of fatigue and forgetfulness and whose Vitamin B-12 levels were detected < 200 pg/ml. The control group was the 30 children and adolescents applied to the same policlinic with various symptoms and whose Vitamin B-12 levels were found normal. Children and adolescents with chronic systemic/ocular disease history and myopia or hyperopia more than 4 diopters were not included in both groups. Spectral Domain-Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) was used for measurements. Results Mean Macular thickness value was 261.2 +/- 17.6 in the Vitamin B-12 deficiency group and 267.7 +/- 17.4 in the control group. Mean value of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) thickness was 103.5 +/- 7.5 in the Vitamin B-12 deficiency group and 104.3 +/- 8.9 in the control group. The mean values of Choroidal thickness were 360.1 +/- 59.8 and 316.9 +/- 95.4 in Vitamin B-12 deficiency and control groups, respectively. There was a statistically significant increase in choroidal thickness in Vitamin B-12 deficiency group compared to controls. Conclusion Statistically significant increase in the Choroidal thicknesses of children and adolescents with Vitamin B-12 deficiency is important in terms of shedding light on studies that will contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between vitamin B-12 and inflammation.