Choroidal Thickness in Beta-thalassemia Patients
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04067258 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : August 26, 2019
Last Update Posted : June 26, 2020
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The purpose of this study is to examine choroidal thickness in beta-thalassemia patients and compare it to the one of healthy controls.
An equal number of transfusion dependent beta-thalassemic patients and age and sex matched healthy volunteers will undergo spectral-domain optical coherence tomography utilizing the enhanced depth imaging application to visualize and measure the choroid.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Beta-Thalassemia | Diagnostic Test: EDI-OCT |
Beta thalassemia is an inherited hemoglobinopathy, associated with defective production of beta-chain globin resulting in problematic HbA production. It is classified according to the severity as minor, intermedia and major. Patients suffering from beta-thalassemia intermedia and beta-thalassemia major require regular blood transfusions. Transfusion related hemosiderosis in these patients necessitates the use of chelating agents to prevent iron overload in vital organs such as the liver and heart.
A number of ocular abnormalities can present in beta-thalassemia patients. Those are categorized as pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE)-like changes that include angioid streaks, peau d'orange like fundus and optic nerve head drusen and non-PXE-like changes such as increased venous tortuosity.
Furthermore, it is well established that prolonged treatment with some of the chelating agents such as deferoxamine are associated with ocular toxicity, namely nyctalopia, colour perception anomalies, visual field disturbances, cataract formation, optic neuropathy and pigmentary retinopathy.
The pathophysiology of those ocular manifestations has not been fully clarified. The role of the choroid has not been determined since this particular tissue was previously unaccessible to imaging. Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography is able to image the choroid providing reasonable clarity compared to spectral domain optical coherence tomography.
The aim of this study is to evaluate possible alterations of choroidal thickness in beta thalassemia as compared to healthy controls.
Study Type : | Observational |
Actual Enrollment : | 60 participants |
Observational Model: | Other |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | Evaluation of Choroidal Thickness in Patients Suffering From Beta-thalassemia |
Actual Study Start Date : | May 1, 2019 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | March 30, 2020 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | April 1, 2020 |

Group/Cohort | Intervention/treatment |
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Beta-Thalassemia group
Patients suffering from beta thalassemia major or intermedia will be included in this group
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Diagnostic Test: EDI-OCT
EDI-OCT (enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography) wiil be performed in all study participants. Three sets of measurements in the macular (horizontal and vertical) and peripapillary area will be averaged. |
Control group
Healthy age and sex matched volunteers will be included in this group
|
Diagnostic Test: EDI-OCT
EDI-OCT (enhanced depth imaging spectral domain optical coherence tomography) wiil be performed in all study participants. Three sets of measurements in the macular (horizontal and vertical) and peripapillary area will be averaged. |
- Subfoveal choroidal thickness [ Time Frame: 8-10 am ]Manual measurements of the choroid starting from the end of the retinal pigment epithelium throughout the outline of the sclera, will be conducted subfoveally
- Choroidal thickness nasally to the fovea [ Time Frame: 8-10 am ]Manual measurements of the choroid starting from the end of the retinal pigment epithelium throughout the outline of the sclera, will be conducted at anatomic locations nasally to the subfoveal point
- Choroidal thickness inferiorly to the fovea [ Time Frame: 8-10 am ]Manual measurements of the choroid starting from the end of the retinal pigment epithelium throughout the outline of the sclera, will be conducted at anatomic locations inferiorly to the subfoveal point
- Choroidal thickness temporally to the fovea [ Time Frame: 8-10 am ]Manual measurements of the choroid starting from the end of the retinal pigment epithelium throughout the outline of the sclera, will be conducted at anatomic locations temporally to the subfoveal point
- Choroidal thickness superiorly to the fovea [ Time Frame: 8-10 am ]Manual measurements of the choroid starting from the end of the retinal pigment epithelium throughout the outline of the sclera, will be conducted at anatomic locations superiorly to the subfoveal point
- Peripapillary choroidal thickness (inferior, superior, nasal and temporal fields) [ Time Frame: 8-10 am ]Manual measurements of the choroid starting from the end of the retinal pigment epithelium throughout the outline of the sclera, will be conducted at the inferior, superior, nasal and temporal quadrants in the peripapillary area.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Sampling Method: | Probability Sample |
Patients with beta-thalassemia major or intermedia undergoing blood transfusions will be examined utilizing EDI-OCT.
A group of equal healthy volunteers will also be included to serve as controls.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Beta thalassemia patients undergoing blood transfusions
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of glaucoma, keratoconus, retinal disease, ocular trauma, ocular surgery, uveitis, amblyopia, strabismus, ocular vascular abnormalities
- Spherical refractive error greater than 4 diopters or cylindrical refractive error greater than 2 diopters
- History of other systemic disease such as uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or connective tissue disease.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04067258
Greece | |
Department of Ophthalmology, General University Hospital of Patras | |
Patras, Achaea, Greece, GR26504 |
Responsible Party: | Constantinos D. Georgakopoulos, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Patras |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04067258 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
9894 / 20 -5 -2016 |
First Posted: | August 26, 2019 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | June 26, 2020 |
Last Verified: | June 2020 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
beta-thalassemia choroidal thickness enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography |
Thalassemia beta-Thalassemia Anemia, Hemolytic, Congenital Anemia, Hemolytic |
Anemia Hematologic Diseases Hemoglobinopathies Genetic Diseases, Inborn |