IS THERE A ROLE OF ACTH IN INCREASED CHOROIDAL THICKNESS IN CUSHING SYNDROME?

Abstract

In Brief Purpose: To evaluate choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with Cushing syndrome (CS) with enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with CS and 38 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this observational cross-sectional study. Patients with newly diagnosed CS who have been admitted to Erciyes University Department of Endocrinology in 3 years time interval were compared with age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Choroidal thickness was measured at the fovea and 2 points nasal and 2 points temporal to the fovea with 500-μm intervals each. Results: Choroidal thickness measurements were higher in patients with CS than in the control group at all examination points; however, the difference was found to be significant at the center of the fovea (367.8 ± 94.4 μm vs. 329 ± 90.5 μm) and 1,000 μm temporal to the fovea. Choroidal thickness measurements were significantly higher in adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)–dependent CS group than in the control group at all measurement points (CT at fovea 388.2 ± 92.4 μm vs. 329.1 ± 90.5 μm). All CT measurements were found to be correlated with ACTH levels. Conclusion: Cushing syndrome is associated with increased CT. The ACTH-dependent CS may increase CT more than ACTH-independent CS. This effect may be directly related to ACTH itself or increased plasma cortisol levels or both. The presented study examines the choroidal thickness in patients with Cushing syndrome. The choroidal thickness has been found to be increased predominantly in the adrenocorticotrophic hormone–dependent Cushing syndrome group. Positive correlation was found between adrenocorticotrophic hormone levels and choroidal thickness but not with endogenous cortisol levels.