Serpiginous Choroiditis Research Articles

Serpiginous Choroiditis After COVID-19 Infection

Serpiginous Choroiditis After COVID-19 Infection

Serpiginous choroidopathy in a patient with severe systemic lupus erythematosus

Serpiginous choroidopathy in a patient with severe systemic lupus erythematosus

An update of multimodal imaging in white dot syndrome

Abstract: The white dot syndromes are a group of phenotypically similar disorders characterized by multiple lesions at the level of the outer retina, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroid. Common white dot syndromes whose imaging modalities have been described in this article are multiple evanescent white dot syndrome, acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy, acute zonal occult outer retinopathy, multifocal choroiditis and panuveitis, punctate inner choroidopathy, serpiginous choroiditis, and birdshot chorioretinopathy. The various imaging modalities help us to better understand the pathophysiology of the various entities and help in diagnosing, monitoring, and prognosticating them. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a comparatively newer tool that helps us to visualize lesions in the choroid that correlate with indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) findings. Even though it is of limited value and cannot replace ICGA, it had gained considerable interest among ophthalmologists. Similarly, the noninvasive nature of modalities such as fundus autofluorescence and OCT makes them appealing and preferable over invasive techniques such as fundus fluorescein angiography and ICGA.

Diagnostic Challenges in Inflammatory Choroidal Neovascularization.

Inflammation plays a key role in the induction of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Inflammatory choroidal neovascularization (iCNV) is a severe but uncommon complication of both infectious and non-infectious uveitides. It is hypothesized that its pathogenesis is similar to that of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and involves hypoxia as well as the release of vascular endothelial growth factor, stromal cell-derived factor 1-alpha, and other mediators. Inflammatory CNV develops when inflammation or infection directly involves the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-Bruch's membrane complex. Inflammation itself can compromise perfusion, generating a gradient of retinal-choroidal hypoxia that additionally promotes the formation of choroidal neovascularization in the course of uveitis. The development of choroidal neovascularization may be a complication, especially in conditions such as punctate inner choroidopathy, multifocal choroiditis, serpiginous choroiditis, and presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome. Although the majority of iCNV cases are well defined and appear as the "classic" type (type 2 lesion) on fluorescein angiography, the diagnosis of iCNV is challenging due to difficulties in differentiating between inflammatory choroiditis lesions and choroidal neovascularization. Modern multimodal imaging, particularly the recently introduced technology of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (noninvasive and rapid imaging modalities), can reveal additional features that aid the diagnosis of iCNV. However, more studies are needed to establish their role in the diagnosis and evaluation of iCNV activity.

A retrospective study describing the effective exchange of total blood plasma for disease control in the exacerbation of serpiginous choroiditis.

Serpiginous choroiditis presents with large yellow-white exudative lesions that occur near the optic nerve papillae, that progresses slowly with repeated relapses and cures. Although infection and autoimmunity have been implicated, the cause is unknown. A man was diagnosed with serpiginous choroiditis on clinical and other examinations. He started treatment with oral corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, adalimumab, azathioprine, rituximab, and mycophenolate mofetil. Only the steroids and cyclophosphamide had a therapeutic effect. Plasma exchange was initiated, and the lesions quickly resolved. Disease control has been maintained by plasma exchange and cyclophosphamide during flare-ups in the fall and winter, suggesting that plasma exchange is effective in the treatment of serpiginous choroiditis. The reproducible response with each recurrence suggests a strong association between the disease and autoimmunity. Furthermore, that some, as yet unknown, autoantibodies are involved in the pathogenesis of serpiginous choroiditis.

Treatment of serpiginous choroiditis with sub-tenon triamcinolone in conjunction with systemic steroids case report.

To report two cases of serpiginous choroiditis which were treated with sub-Tenon's triamcinolone in conjunction with systemic steroids to control acute and chronic disease progression. Increased success of disease remission has been postulated for sub-Tenon's triamcinolone therapy in conjunct with systemic steroids. Retrospective chart review of two serpiginous choroiditis patients who presented at an eye center. Both patients received sub-Tenon's triamcinolone and systemic steroids. Visual acuity and disease course are reported. Both cases of serpiginous choroiditis received sub-Tenon's triamcinolone on presentation and were hospitalized for intravenous corticosteroids and systemic work up. The first patient had been on oral corticosteroids before presentation. Both patients reported same day visual improvement after sub-Tenon's triamcinolone was administered. These two case reports describe unique clinical scenarios in which sub-Tenon's triamcinolone was used in both the acute and chronic phases of serpiginous choroiditis. Local steroid therapy can be a useful adjunctive therapy when systemic steroids are delayed, contraindicated or intolerable.

Blue-Light Fundus Autofluorescence (BAF), an Essential Modality for the Evaluation of Inflammatory Diseases of the Photoreceptors: An Imaging Narrative.

Our purpose is to describe blue-light fundus autofluorescence (BAF) features of inflammatory diseases of the outer retina characterised by photoreceptor damage. BAF from patients diagnosed with secondary and primary inflammatory photoreceptor damage were retrospectively analyzed and compared to other imaging modalities including fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS), idiopathic multifocal choroiditis (MFC), acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE), serpiginous choroiditis (SC), and acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis (ASPPC), all cases corresponding to secondary photoreceptor diseases caused by inflammatory choriocapillaris nonperfusion, were included and compared to primary photoreceptor disease entities, including acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) and cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR). Both groups showed increased BAFs of variable intensity. In severe cases of APMPPE and ASPPC, BAF also showed hypoautofluorescent areas. In group 1 (secondary diseases) BAF hyperautofluorescent areas were associated with colocalized ICGA hypofluorescent areas, indicating choriocapillaris nonperfusion; whereas in group 2 (primary diseases), no ICGA signs were detected. The associated colocalized areas of hypofluorescence on ICGA in the first group, which were absent in the second group, were crucial to allow the differentiation between primary (photoreceptoritis) and secondary (choriocapillaritis) photoreceptor diseases. BAF patterns in inflammatory diseases of the outer retina can give relevant information on the photoreceptor and RPE involvement, with ICGA being crucial to detect concurring choriocapillaris damage and differentiating the two pathologies.

Dexamethasone intravitreal implant for macular edema and some other rare indications in uveitis.

In the present study, 110 eyes of 81 patients with uveitis who underwent intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) injection and had a follow-up of at least 6 months between January, 2012 and September, 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 298 IDI injections were administered (mean, 2.71±2.37; range, 1-12). The mean age of the patients was 49.44±16.67 years (range, 15-86 years). The mean follow-up time after the first IDI was 34.31±26.53 months (range, 6-115 months). In total, 77 (95.1%) patients had non-infectious uveitis, while 4 patients (4.9%) received IDI for uveitic macular edema in association with infectious uveitis (1 patient with acute retinal necrosis and 3 patients with systemic tuberculosis). IDI was injected under the umbrella of intravitreal ganciclovir injection in the patient with healed acute retinal necrosis for the associated pseudophakic cystoid macular edema. A total of 6 patients (7.4%) received IDI prior to phacoemulsification surgery to control the possible post-operative macular edema. In addition, 3 patients (3.7%) with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease received bilateral IDI as the systemic therapy could not be administered due to side-effects of the systemic treatment. In total, 1 patient (1.2%) with idiopathic retinal vasculitis, aneurysms and neuroretinitis was treated with IDI injections in both eyes in addition to systemic therapy to reduce the ongoing inflammation. Of note, two eyes (1.8%) received simultaneous single IDI and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor administration for the treatment of unilateral extrafoveal macular neovascularization (one with active serpiginous choroiditis and one with sympathetic ophthalmia). IDI was administered for the treatment of uveitic macular edema in 68 patients (83.9%). Best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.69±0.64 to 0.60±0.76 logMAR at the final visit (P=0.008). Baseline mean central macular thickness (CMT) was 499.74±229.60 µm (range, 187-1,187 µm) and the mean final CMT was 296.60±152.02 µm (range, 126-848 µm). Intraocular pressure elevation requiring topical antiglaucomatous eye drops occurred in 28 eyes (25.5%). During the follow-up period, bilateral glaucoma surgery was required in 1 patient (1.2%) and 25 of 65 phakic eyes (38.4%) underwent phacoemulsification. Retinal detachment occurred in one eye (0.9%), endophthalmitis in one eye (0.9%), and transient intravitreal hemorrhage occurred in three eyes (2.7%) after the IDI injections. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that although IDI is mostly employed in non-infectious uveitic eyes with macular edema, it can also be administered in cases with systemic therapy intolerance, pseudophakic macular edema prophylaxis, and with great caution, in selected cases involving infectious uveitis and macular edema.

Features of the Course and Rare Ophthalmic Manifestations of Post-COVID Syndrome

The review presents data from studies of the ophthalmological consequences of the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, especially regarding its rare manifestations. Clinical manifestations of the post-COVID-19 syndrome disappear within about two weeks in mild cases and 3 to 12 weeks in more severe cases. 80 % of patients have more than one, often more than two, and more than 10 symptoms. In general, patients improve spontaneously and continuously over time. The ophthalmic manifestations of COVID-19 vary in nature, severity, and timing, and are more common in patients with severe systemic disease, abnormal blood counts, and inflammatory conditions. Ophthalmic manifestations can develop at any time during the course of the disease. The median time to symptom onset since COVID-19 diagnosis is 5 days for neuro-ophthalmic manifestations, 8.5 days for the ocular surface and anterior segment of the eye, and 12 days for the posterior segment and orbit. COVID-19 causes ocular manifestations in approximately 11 % of patients. The most common ocular manifestation is conjunctivitis, which affects almost 89 % of patients with eye diseases. Other much less common anterior segment anomalies caused by SARS-CoV-2 include scleritis, episcleritis, and acute anterior uveitis. Posterior segment injuries caused by SARS-CoV-2 are mainly vascular, such as hemorrhages, cotton wool spots, dilated veins, and vasculitis. Rare complications of COVID-19 include rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis; retrobulbar optic neuropathy, papillitis, neuroretinitis, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, non-arterial anterior ischemic optic neuropathy; retinal white spot syndrome (MEWDS); acute unilateral anterior uveitis, serpiginous choroiditis; bilateral central serous chorioretinopathy; bilateral acute depigmentation of the iris, bilateral acute transillumination of the iris; refraction changes; complications associated with drugs used to treat COVID-19 that have toxic effects on eye tissue; and vaccine-associated uveitis.

Необычная причина серпигинозоподобного хориоидита. Связь с инфекцией Mycobacterium Fortuitum в моче?

The purpose of these case reports is to present a case who developed bilateral serpiginous like choroiditis in association with urogenital infection of Mycobacterium Fortuitum. A 49-year-old female who presented with visual loss was diagnosed with bilateral serpiginous like choroiditis. Uveitis workup findings were negative except for a positive tuberculin skin test positivity. Considering the findings and her residence in an endemic area for m. tuberculosis, empirical treatment for tuberculosis was started. Later in the course of the disease, her urine cytology came back positive for ARB, and M. Fortuitum was isolated in the urine cultures. Treatment for atypical mycobacteria resulted in clinical improvement. No relapses of serpiginous like choroiditis occurred following the treatment. This is the first documented case of serpiginous choroiditis related to mycobacterium fortuitum infection in the literature. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria may also cause serpiginous like choroiditis. Keywords: Mycobacterium Fortuitum, Serpiginous-like choroiditis, Uveitis, Urinary tract infection

A Case of Intraocular Tuberculosis Presenting With Neuroretinitis and Serpiginous Choroiditis

A Case of Intraocular Tuberculosis Presenting With Neuroretinitis and Serpiginous Choroiditis

Дифференциальная диагностика клинических форм серпигинозного хориоидита как ключ к выбору тактики лечения

Purpose. To present a case report of serpiginous chorioiditis to perform the differential diagnosis for treatment. Material and methods. The patient, 33 year old, with a decrease of visual acuity. The comprehensive ophthalmologic examinations ware carried out, including the examination of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit lamp indirect ophthalmoscopy, microperimetry, optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT – angiography, fundus autofluorescence (AF). Results. During the examination the diagnosis was «OU Classical serpiginous chorioiditis with activity on the left eye. Subretinal neovascular membranes type 2 on the left eye». Conclusions. A non-infectious cause of serpiginous choroiditis was diagnosed. It was recommended the glucocorticosteroids' treatment. In this case, the process was complicated by the development of macular neovascularization, which required the administration of the angiogenesis inhibitors. Keywords: serpiginous choroiditis, tuberculosis, choroid, multifocal serpiginoid choroiditis

Clinical association and visual morbidity in uveitis with systemic diseases: An analysis from a tertiary ophthalmic center.

The aim of this study was to identify the incidence, etiology, most common presentations, complications, and the causes of visual loss in posterior uveitis (PU). A retrospective study was conducted on a cohort of 125 patients with PU with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Ocular evaluation consisted of slit-lamp examination, indirect ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, and refraction. Ancillary ophthalmic investigations such as fundus fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and B-scan ultrasonography were done. Laboratory tests were performed on blood on all patients and in aqueous humor samples obtained by anterior chamber paracentesis in cases of diagnostic dilemmas. All the data were analyzed using SPSS program. PU occurred in 61%. Infections were noted in 34% and autoimmune diseases in 27%. The most frequent presentation was choroiditis. The most common etiologies were tubercular uveitis in 50%, Toxoplasma retinochoroiditis in 23%, and autoimmune category of serpiginous choroiditis in 56% of patients. Complications occurred in 27% and were most commonly cystoid macular edema and macular scarring. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nested PCR, and real-time PCR on ocular fluids were required for diagnosis in 30%. A combination of laboratory investigations on blood and aqueous humor samples were confirmation in 88%. PU and its sequelae are known to be sight threatening and are associated with systemic diseases. They have diverse etiologies and presentations. Identification of etiology is important as management is diametrically opposite in infections and autoimmune diseases.

Image of serpiginous choroiditis in swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography – a review of the literature

Image of serpiginous choroiditis in swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography – a review of the literature

Sequential MFN2-Related Optic Neuropathies in a Patient With Serpiginous Choroiditis.

Patel, Shivam H. MD; Moorthy, Meena S. BS; Moorthy, Ramana S. MD; Mackay, Devin D. MDEditor(s): Avery, Robert DO; Golnik, Karl C. MD; Froment, Caroline MD, PhD; Wang, An-Guor MD Author Information

Autofluorescence imaging for diagnosis and follow‐up of serpiginous choroiditis

AbstractPurpose: To report by multimodality imaging the follow‐up of a patient with posterior uveitis presenting serpiginous choroiditis (SC). To highlight the importance of autofluorescence in the follow‐up of patients with atrophic scarring due to CS.Methods: We present an observational case of SC documented photographically. Clinical data were gathered retrospectively from several visits. The data included corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and autofluorescence (AF).Results: Periodic revision of a 49‐year‐old female being followed up for SC secondary to tuberculosis. Mantoux test was positive in 2010 and she was treated correctly. Twelve years later, BCVA was hand movements in the right eye and in the left eye 20/40. Fundus examination revealed no presence of vitritis and atrophic scars post choroiditis serpiginosa. OCT displayed disruption of outer retinal layers. AF revealed atrophy plaque with a new diffuse hypoautofluorescence halo surrounding hyperautofluorescent rim. Aqueous humour and vitreous sample results were negatives. Finally, the lesion was diagnosed as a serpiginous choroiditis. She was treated with corticosteroid and biological therapy to improve her visual acuity. It should suggest a reactivation of SC the appearance of a new atrophy plaque with ill‐defined creamy rim, early block and diffuse oozing at late times, choroidal hypoperfusion, diffuse hypoautofluorescence halo surrounding hyperautofluorescent rim and disruption of outer retinal layers with ellipsoid loss.Conclusions: A differential diagnosis should be made between SC and posterior uveitis secondary to tuberculosis. Multimodal imaging by autofluorescence is important for the diagnosis and follow‐up of patients with atrophic scarring due to SC. Differential diagnosis of cause posterior uveitis is essential for the monitoring and treatment. In inflammatory diseases always rule out infection prior to corticosteroid treatment or biological therapy.

Diagnosis and management of serpiginous choroiditis

Purpose: Serpiginous choroiditis (SC) is a rare, bilateral, idiopathic inflammatory disorder that causes geographic destruction of the retina and choroid often in healthy middle-aged patients. Symptoms include blurred vision, central and paracentral scotomas. SC is part of a group termed white dot syndromes which involves inflammation of the retina and choroid with the appearance of white dots in the fundus. SC requires a thorough workup prior to treatment to rule out other inflammatory autoimmune or infectious etiologies. Early stages are challenging to diagnose. Treatment includes corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy. The exact cause of Serpiginous Choroiditis is not known, yet HLA-B7 is typically positive indicating an autoimmune response in these patients. Choroidal neovascularization and cystoid macula edema are side effects, so close monitoring is important. This case presents a holistic clinical picture of SC to aid in better clinical diagnosis and understanding of this condition for the primary care eye clinician. Results: Presentation of a young otherwise healthy 37-year-old male patient to our clinical service revealed a serpentine shaped retina presentation absent of anterior chamber or vitreous inflammation. Fundus photos, fluorescein angiography, and ocular coherence tomography revealed serpiginous choroiditis. Primary care workup to rule out systemic conditions was unremarkable. Initial treatment with monitoring included intravitreal triamcinolone 2 mg/0.05 mL OU with oral chlorambucil therapy immediately afterwards. Active lesions resolved over the next 3 weeks, yet visual acuity showed no improvement as the foveal was already involved. The goal of chlorambucil therapy for 3 months was to induce sustained remission. Conclusion: Prognosis of SC is less favorable when the macula is involved (macular SC). Upon clinical presentation of serpiginous choroiditis, it is important to establish etiology of non-infectious autoimmune disorders or infectious disorders before classification of idiopathic SC and aggressive treatment to address underlying systemic conditions.

Types of Fundus Involvement in Intraocular Tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the patients who were treated for intraocular tuberculosis retrospectively and present our findings and share our experience.MATERIAL AND Methods:This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study. Patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of intraocular tuberculosis in the Ophthalmology and Pulmonary Medicine Departments of Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine in the last 15 years and received anti-tuberculosis therapy were included.Results:A total of 16 eyes of 10 patients with a diagnosis of intraocular tuberculosis uveitis who were treated with anti-tuberculosis therapy were included in this study. The mean age was 48.1 [14.6] years (mean [standard deviation]). Four were [40%] male and 6 [60%] were female. Patients with tuberculosis uveitis had bilateral involvement (7 of 10 patients [70%]). Intraocular tuberculosis was presented in 7 eyes of 4 patients with serpiginous like choroiditis, 2 eyes of 2 patients with choroidal tuberculomas, 4 eyes of 2 patients with choroidal tubercles (miliary tuberculosis), and 3 eyes of 2 patients with intermediate uveitis. The mean duration from admission to treatment was 18.1 ± 17.4 days (range: 6-56 days). All patients in this study received a 4-drug regimen anti-tuberculosis therapy, Paradoxical reaction occurred in 30% of the patients. Eight patients had systemic steroid therapy and 4 had also topical steroid therapy. The mean length of follow-up was 14.7 months (standard deviation = 15.1, range: 6-48 months). Reactivation of intraocular tuberculosis was not observed in any patients.Conclusion:High level of suspicion is a must for diagnosing intraocular tuberculosis. A complete ophthalmic examination can be performed in patients with suspected or proven tuberculosis. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of intraocular tuberculosis can prevent serious complications and loss of vision.

Bacillary layer detachment in a patient with serpiginoid choroiditis.

Bacillary layer detachment in a patient with serpiginoid choroiditis.

ROLE OF OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY IN DETECTING AND MONITORING INFLAMMATORY CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION.

To investigate the utility of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) for the detection of inflammatory choroidal neovascularization (iCNV) and monitoring their response to treatment. A retrospective review of patients with a diagnosis of uveitis and associated iCNV with active exudation was performed. Active iCNV was determined by spectral domain OCT and/or fluorescein angiogram. Spectral domain OCTA outer retina to choriocapillaris slabs was evaluated for the presence of iCNV. Follow-up OCTA images were qualitatively assessed to determine whether regression of iCNV occurred after treatment. Thirteen eyes of 12 patients were included. The etiologies of uveitis include punctate inner choroidopathy (n = 4), multifocal choroiditis (n = 2), presumed sarcoid uveitis (n = 2), tuberculous choroiditis (n = 1), birdshot chorioretinopathy (n = 1), syphilitic uveitis (n = 1), serpiginous choroiditis (n = 1), and idiopathic panuveitis (n = 1). Inflammatory choroidal neovascularization was detected on en face OCTA in 10 of 13 eyes (76.9%). After iCNV treatment, en face OCTA demonstrated complete regression of iCNV in 5 of 10 eyes (50%), partial regression in 2 of 10 eyes (20%), and no regression in 3 of 10 eyes (30%). Optical coherence tomography angiography is an effective modality for detecting iCNV and could provide detailed visualization regarding location, morphologic structure, and flow of the iCNV and its response to therapy.