الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 95 |  |  |
| | | from | 95 | | |
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common and chronic systemic inflammatory disease that primarily affects small Joints. It is most seen in individuals in the fourth and fifth decades of life. Extra-articular manifestations have also been observed including cardiac, pulmonary, neurologic involvement, major cutaneous vasculitis, ocular manifestations, and other types of vasculitis. RA may affect all parts of the eye; conjunctiva, cornea, sclera, uvea, choroid and retina. The choroid is a highly vascularized layer containing connective tissue located between the retina and sclera that provides oxygen and nourishment to the outer layers of the retina.
In this study, Sixty-five subjects were included and were divided into two groups: first group 44 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) into subgroup 22 RA patients on Methotrexate in last six months and 22 RA patients on etanrecept in last six months. Second group 21 healthy persons will be included.included 44 R.A patients (22 on methotrexate and 22 on etanercept), and 21 healthy controls.
Our results identified significant increase in choroidal thickness (CT) in the RA group compared to the control group. There were no significant differences between the groups in central macular thickness (CMT) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness except for quadrants of temporal and inferior nasal, which were significantly thinner in the RA group. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was observed between the disease activity index (DAS 28) and both CMT (CMT; r=-0.463, P-value=0.002) and SFCT (sub foveal choroidal thickness (SFCT); r=-0.524, P-value<0.001) in RA patients. It means that expected decrease in the CMT and SFCT of the eye when the DAS28 of the patient increased. On the other hand, a significant positive correlation was found between the DAS28 of the patients and inferior temporal quadrant of the peripapillary RNFL (r=0.297, P-value=0.0