Clinical features of punctate inner choroidopathy in Chinese patients

Abstract

Objective To characterize the clinical features of punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) in Chinese patients. Methods The clinical data of 75 PIC patients (112 eyes) attending this center from June 1999 to October 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. All patients received routine examination and fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA). Twenty-eight patients also received indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). VISUPAC 3.3 software was used to determine the size of lesions in early image of FFA at the artery stage. Results Of the 75 PIC patients (112 eyes), 54 patients (72%) were female, 37 patients (49%) were bilateral cases. Sixty patients (80%) were myopic, including eight patients (7%) with mild myopia, 22 patients (20%) with moderate myopia, and 57 patients (51%) with high myopia. The mean age at presentation was 32 years (range: 17 - 61). Multifocal PIC lesions (1-56 lesions) were mostly restricted to posterior pole of affected eyes (95%). Eighty-four eyes (75%) had 10 PIC lesions. Thc active lesions were yellow-white and butter-like, 20-500pm in diameter. FFA showed that most acute lesions were early hyperfluorescence, and stained or slightly leaked on late period. The atrophic lesions were pouched-out, 50-2000 μm in diameter, with irregular pigmentation. Choroidal neovascularization developed in 70 eyes (63%). Papilledema (three eyes, 3%), staining of optic disc on late-phase fluorescein angiography (three eyes, 3%), and segmental retinal phlebitis (two eyes, 2%) were rare. Conclusions PIC primarily affects young women with moderate or high myopia. It is featured by multifocal small yellow creamy lesions and/or atrophic punched-out lesions principally in the posterior pole. Choroidal neovascularization is the most common complication. Key words: Choroiditis/diagnosis; Fluorescein angiography; Disease attributes