Evaluation of optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography findings of fibromyalgia

Background To execute comprehensive study about optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in fibromyalgia (FM) to elaborate macula, optic disk changes. Methods A total of 84 participants comprising 44 FM patients and 40 healthy controls were included. Macular full thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL)+, GCL++, superficial vessel density (SVD), deep vessel density (DVD), foveal avascular zone (FAZ), circumpapillary vessel density (cpVD), RNFL measurements were evaluated using OCT/OCTA. Each FM patient completed Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Short Form-36 (SF-36), Widespread Pain Index (WPI), Symptom Severity Scale (SSS). OCT/OCTA parameters were compared between controls and FM patients. Correlation between FIQ, SF-36, WPI, SSS and OCT/OCTA were evaluated. Logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze associated parameters. Results Macular full thickness parafoveal nasal, temporal, superior, inferior, perifoveal temporal, superior, GCL+ parafoveal nasal, temporal, superior, inferior, GCL+ perifoveal temporal, GCL++ parafoveal nasal, temporal, superior, inferior, GCL++ perifoveal nasal were lower in FM patients. Difference was not found in SVD, DVD or FAZ measurements. cpVD in nasal, superior, inferior were higher in FM patients. RNFL temporal was lower in FM patients. Weak correlations were observed between FIQ, SF-36, WPI, SSS scores and OCT/OCTA parameters. Superior cpVD was associated with FM due to logistic regression analysis. Conclusions OCT/OCTA can provide objective supplementary measurements in the assessment of FM. Changes in measurements like RNFL, macula GCL, cpVD are important to evaluate the neuroretinal changes in FM.