Abstract
Inflammatory choroidal neovascularization is a severe but uncommon complication of uveitis, more frequent in posterior uveitis such as punctate inner choroidopathy, multifocal choroiditis, serpiginous choroiditis, and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. Its pathogenesis is supposed to be similar to the wet age related macular degeneration: hypoxia, release of vascular endothelial growth factor, stromal cell derived factor 1-alpha, and other mediators seem to be involved in the uveitis-related choroidal neovascularization. A review on the factors implicated so far in the pathogenesis of inflammatory choroidal neovascularization was performed. Also we reported the success rate of single studies concerning the therapies of choroidal neovascularization secondary to uveitis during the last decade: photodynamic therapy, intravitreal bevacizumab, and intravitreal ranibizumab, besides steroidal and immunosuppressive therapy. Hereby a standardization of the therapeutic approach is proposed.
Highlights
Beside the well-known choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the age related macular degeneration (ARMD) in myopic eyes or in angioid streaks, neovascular membranes can develop even as a complication of uveitis with an incidence of 2% [1], accounting for severe visual loss in patients with ocular infectious or noninfectious inflammatory diseases [2], affecting young patients.The prevalence of CNV secondary to uveitis varies among different entities, commonly occurring in presumed ocular histoplasmosis (POHS) (3.8%), toxoplasmosis, punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) (17–40%), idiopathic multifocal choroiditis (MC) (33%), and serpiginous choroiditis (SC) [2]
Its pathogenesis is supposed to be similar to the wet age related macular degeneration: hypoxia, release of vascular endothelial growth factor, stromal cell derived factor 1-alpha, and other mediators seem to be involved in the uveitis-related choroidal neovascularization
We reported the success rate of single studies concerning the therapies of choroidal neovascularization secondary to uveitis during the last decade: photodynamic therapy, intravitreal bevacizumab, and intravitreal ranibizumab, besides steroidal and immunosuppressive therapy
Summary
Beside the well-known choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the age related macular degeneration (ARMD) in myopic eyes or in angioid streaks, neovascular membranes can develop even as a complication of uveitis with an incidence of 2% [1], accounting for severe visual loss in patients with ocular infectious or noninfectious inflammatory diseases [2], affecting young patients. The prevalence of CNV secondary to uveitis varies among different entities, commonly occurring in presumed ocular histoplasmosis (POHS) (3.8%), toxoplasmosis, punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) (17–40%), idiopathic multifocal choroiditis (MC) (33%), and serpiginous choroiditis (SC) [2]. CNV has been reported in up to 9% of patients with VogtKoyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) [1, 3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
