Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2025.64.03.19

The Impact of Migraine on the Thickness of the Inner Plexiform Layer Quantified by Optical Coherence Tomography

Anamarija Soldo Koruga ; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Center Osijek, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia *
Nenad Koruga ; aculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia; Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Center Osijek, Croatia
Alen Rončević ; aculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia; Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Center Osijek, Croatia
Slaven Balog ; Ophthalmology Clinic Dr. Balog, Osijek, Croatia
Nina Rotim ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Silva Butković Soldo ; Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia; Faculty of Education, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia
Davor Jančuljak ; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Center Osijek, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia
Antonio Kokot ; Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia
Tatjana Pekmezović ; Institute of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Introduction: Migraine is one of the most prominent headache disorders with a
global burden of over one billion patients and presents as a disabling and painful disorder. The pathophysiological
mechanism of migraine is not fully understood, but the most accepted theory suggests that
migraine is caused primarily by neural dysfunction leading to secondary changes in cerebral perfusion.
Methods: We conducted a case-control study in 175 patients; 88 were migraineurs and 87 were healthy
controls. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed in all patients using a spectral-domain
OCT device in the same environmental conditions. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were set up to
achieve more homogenous groups. OCT was performed to scan all retinal layers with an emphasis on
the inner plexiform layer (IPL).
Results: Among the 175 examined subjects, 84% were women. The group of migraine patients consisted
of patients without aura (56%) and patients with aura (44%). After collecting tomography data,
we did not find subjects with changes of IPL. Nevertheless, only moderate differences in IPL thickness
in all quadrants except the central area were found in the group of migraine patients with aura using
Pearson’s test.
Conclusion: According to the presented results, no significant changes of IPL thickness in migraine
patients were found. We have to emphasize the need for further investigation of the relationship between
average migraine headache days per month and IPL thickness.

Keywords

case-control studies; migraine with aura; migraine without aura; optical coherence tomography; retina

Hrčak ID:

342945

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/342945

Publication date:

30.9.2025.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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