Birdshot retinochoroidopathy: ocular complications and visual impairment.

Authors

• Jennifer E Thorne
• Douglas A Jabs
• George B Peters
• David Hair
• James P Dunn
• John H Kempen

Publication/Presentation Date

7-1-2005

Abstract

PURPOSE: To describe the incidence of vision loss and of ocular complications attributable to birdshot retinochoroidopathy and to describe the association between therapy and the incidence thereof.

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING: Single-center, academic practice.

STUDY POPULATION: Forty patients with birdshot retinochoroidopathy were evaluated from January 1984 through March 2004.

OBSERVATION PROCEDURE: Demographic and clinical information on patients diagnosed with birdshot retinochoroidopathy was collected.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity and visual field loss; ocular complications including cystoid macular edema (CME).

RESULTS: In affected eyes, the frequencies of vision loss to 20/50 or worse and to 20/200 or worse and of CME at presentation were 33%, 13%, and 20%, respectively. Patients who presented with a duration of disease of > or = 30 months had higher frequencies of visual impairment to 20/50 or worse (68% vs 32%; P = .004) and to 20/200 or worse (32% vs 9%; P = .01), and had a higher frequency of CME (38% vs 14%; P = .02) than patients who presented with a duration of disease < 30 months. The incidence rates on follow-up for vision loss to 20/50 or worse and to 20/200 or worse were 13% and 4% per eye-year (EY), respectively. The incidence of CME was 10%/EY. Use of immunosuppressive drug therapy was associated with a reduced risk of developing CME (relative risk = 0.17; 95% confidence interval: 0.05, 0.64; P = .009).

CONCLUSIONS: Birdshot retinochoroidopathy is a progressive disease with the potential for visual impairment. Patients who present at a later date after the onset of disease were more likely to have vision impairment and CME. Use of long-term immunosuppressive therapy may reduce the risk of CME.

Volume

140

Issue

1

First Page

45

Last Page

51

ISSN

0002-9394

Published In/Presented At

Thorne, J. E., Jabs, D. A., Peters, G. B., Hair, D., Dunn, J. P., & Kempen, J. H. (2005). Birdshot retinochoroidopathy: ocular complications and visual impairment. American journal of ophthalmology, 140(1), 45–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2005.01.035

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

16038650

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article