van Dijk EHC, et al. - This study was designed in order to inspect the ophthalmological characteristics of asymptomatic patients, with a renal transplant on chronic low-dose steroids for at least the last 2 years prior to the examination. In maximum patients of the study cohort, retinal abnormalities appeared to be common. These retinal changes could be related to the renal disease and/or the effect of chronic steroid use on the choroid and retina.

Methods

• The scheme of this research was a cross-sectional study.
• Herein, all patients underwent an extensive ophthalmological examination.

Results

• Among the 37 included patients [25 male, 12 female; 59 ± 11 years (range, 38-77 years)] ophthalmological phenotyping disclosed abnormalities in 22 patients (59%).
• In 10 patients (27%), findings characteristic for (subclinical) central serous chorioretinopathy were detected, including 2 patients with serous subretinal fluid in the macula.
• The presence of an epiretinal membrane of the macula was noted in 6 patients (16%).
• A substantial rise was discovered in the mean subfoveal choroidal thickness, in patients with ophthalmological abnormalities, when compared to patients without abnormalities.