The objective of this study is to evaluate choroidal thickness (CT) in patients with rheumatoid artritis (RA) and the effects of short-term hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) treatment.
Thirty RA patients (group 1) and 30 normal subjects (group 2) were enrolled in the study. Group 1 was further divided into two subgroups as follows: group 1A (Before HCQ treatment) and group 1B (1 year after HCQ treatment). The CTs were measured using optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT).
The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) (µm) was 335.70 ± 64.58 in group 1A, 341.85 ± 63.95 in group 1B, and 358.51 ± 63.83 in group 2. SFCT was significantly lower in groups 1A and 1B than in group 2 (p = 0.020 and p = 0.028, respectively). Group 1B presented statistically significant thicker SFCT than group 1A (p = 0.033).
CT was significantly lower in RA patients than in normal subjects. HCQ treatment may, however, cause a statistically significant increase in SFCT. This increase is clinically negligible.