Evaluation of Retina and Choroid in Long Term HIV Infection Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Treatment.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in macular thickness, ganglion cell inner plexiform and choroid layer of long term Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected patients by optical coherence tomography (OCT) who treated with antiretroviral therapy. Matherials and Methods: The study included 50 HIV cases receiving antiretroviral therapy and 50 control groups. Best corrected visual acuity, anterior and posterior segment examinations were performed in both groups. Macula, optic disc and choroid layer measurements were performed with OCT device. Results: The number of males / females in the HIV group is 37/13 and the average age is 42.7 ± 8.3 years, the number of males / females in the control group is 35/15 and the average age is 42.8 ± 8.1 years. No statistically significant difference was found in terms of age and gender in both groups(P = 0.96, P = 0.76 respectively). Avarage choroidal thickness is 267.5 ± 33.1μ in HIV group and 283.3 ± 24.8 μ in control group.(P=0.008) Average macular thickness is 299.8 ± 12.1 μ in HIV group and 316.1 ± 14.4 μ in control group.(P = 0.001) Retinal nerve fiber thickness is 102.9 ± 10.1 μ in the HIV group and 106.2 ±13.7 μ in the control group.(P = 0.173) Conclusion: HIV patients who received treatment developed thinning in inner retinal layers and choroid layer over time compared to healthy individuals. It suggests that viral particles have degenerative effects on retinal cells by triggering autoimmune reactions. This situation has negative trophic effect on other layers and causes thinning in the macula and choroid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]