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J Neurol Surg B Skull Base 2023; 84(02): 194-199
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1758146
Original Article

Is There a Relationship between Optic Nerve and Chiasm Measurements with HbA1c Levels in Diabetic Patients?

Pelin Zeynep Bekin Sarıkaya
1   Radiology Department, Kırıkkale University, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey
,
Nuray Bayar Muluk 
2   ENT Department, Kırıkkale University, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey
,
Adnan Özdemır
1   Radiology Department, Kırıkkale University, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey
,
Aşkın Güngüneş
3   Endocrinology and Metabolism Department, Kırıkkale University, Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey
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Abstract

Objectives We investigated the optic nerve (ON) and chiasm (OC) in magnetic resonance (MR) in diabetic patients by comparing them with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels.

Methods In this retrospective study, cranial MRIs of 42 adults (19 males and 23 females) with diabetes mellitus (DM) (group1) and 40 healthy controls (19 males and 21 females) (group 2) were included. In both groups, bilateral ON widths and OC area, width, and height were measured. In the DM group, HbA1c values were also obtained at the time of MRI or within the same month.

Results In the DM group, the mean of the HbA1c values was 8.31 ± 2.51%. There were no significant differences between ON diameter; and OC area, width and height of the DM and control groups (p > 0.05). In each of the DM and control groups, ON diameter was not different between the right and left sides (p > 0.05). In DM groups, correlation tests showed that there were positive correlations between right and left ON diameters, OC area and OC width, and OC height (p < 0.05). In males, ON diameters were higher than those in females bilaterally (p < 0.05). In patients with higher HbA1c values, OC width was smaller (p < 0.05).

Conclusion A significant correlation of OC width and HbA1c levels suggests that uncontrolled DM causes ON atrophy. Our study represents a thorough assessment of OC measures using standard brain MRI to evaluate optic degeneration in DM patients and shows that the OC width measurement is suitable and reliable. This simple method can be obtained from clinically available scans.

Keywords

diabetes mellitus - HbA1c - optic nerve - optic chiasm - atrophy - cranial MRI

Ethics Committee Approval

This study is retrospective. Ethics committee approval was obtained from Kırıkkale University Non-invasive Research Ethics Committee (Date: 27.04.2022, Number: 2022.04.29)


There is no need to take informed consent, because the data was evaluated retrospectively.


There are no funds for this article.


Authors' Contributions

P.Z.B.S. contributed to planning, designing, literature survey, and writing. N.B.M. was involved in planning, designing, literature survey, statistical analysis, writing, and submission. A.O. helped in planning, designing, data collection, and literature survey. A.G. contributed to planning, designing, and literature survey.




Publication History

Received: 20 August 2022

Accepted: 13 September 2022

Article published online:
09 November 2022

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