[Thickness of the retinal photoreceptor layers and the choroid, and bioelectrical activity of the macula in retinitis pigmentosa].

Purpose: To assess the changes in photoreceptor retinal layers and the choroid in comparison with bioelectrical activity of the macula in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Material And Methods: The study included 10 patients (20 phakic eyes) with RP. Mean age was 27±18.5 years; mean best corrected visual acuity was 0.38±0.22. In addition to standard ophthalmological examination and fundus photography, each patient underwent an electrophysiological study on an electroretinograph MBN (Russia) recording general electroretinogram (ERG), maximal ERG (cone-rod response), 30 Hz flicker ERG and macular ERG (mERG). Choroidal thickness (CT) measurement and segmentation of the retina with following calculation of the thickness of different retinal layers was performed on SD-OCT RS-3000 Advance 'Nidek', Japan), it included obtainment of the 6-mm-diameter map in accordance with the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS).

Results: The study revealed a decrease in thickness of the choroid, retina, and the photoreceptor layers: 1) the layer with photoreceptor outer segment (OS) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and 2) the layer with photoreceptor inner segment (IS) and outer nuclear layer. Decreased thickness of these layers is associated with the reduction of bioelectric activity of the macula as seen with mERG.

Conclusion: Decreased thickness of the retina, choroid and photoreceptor layers in all segments of the macula according to EDTRS standards is associated with reduced bioelectric activity of the macula recorded with mERG.