Faculty Collaboration Database

Reduced retinal nerve fibre layer thickness in children with severe obesity. Pediatr Obes 2015 Dec;10(6):448-53

Date

01/07/2015

Pubmed ID

25559237

DOI

10.1111/ijpo.12005

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84959501002 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   29 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Some optic nerve diseases are silent and insidious. Recently, reduced thickness of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) has been associated with increasing body mass index in adults.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of childhood obesity with RNFL measured by optical coherence tomography imaging.

METHODS: Ninety-seven children aged 5-14 years classified according to standard deviation score of body mass index (SDS-BMI) were included. Parameters of metabolic risk, adipocytokines (leptin, adiponectin) and interleukin-6 were analyzed. All subjects underwent a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination with direct ophthalmoscopy. Evaluation of RNFL with optical coherence tomography of the head of the nerve was performed.

RESULTS: RNFL thickness on the average and inferior, superior and nasal quadrants were decreased in severely obese children (SDS-BMI > 4) with respect to the other groups. However, no statistically significant association was found between the different groups of children and RNFL thickness in the temporal quadrant. There was a significant inverse correlation of RNFL thickness with adiposity indices (P = 0.016), leptin (P = 0.029) and interleukin-6 (P = 0.030) in overweight and obese children.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that adiposity and obesity-related inflammatory factors may be associated with the loss of retinal ganglion cells in children.

Author List

Pacheco-Cervera J, Codoñer-Franch P, Simó-Jordá R, Pons-Vázquez S, Galbis-Estrada C, Pinazo-Durán MD

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adiponectin
Adolescent
Biomarkers
Body Mass Index
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Interleukin-6
Leptin
Male
Nerve Fibers
Obesity, Morbid
Pediatric Obesity
Prospective Studies
Retinal Ganglion Cells
Tomography, Optical Coherence