Macular serpiginous choroiditis.
OBJECTIVE
To report a variant form of serpiginous choroiditis, that initially or predominantly involved the macular area.


METHODS
Nine eyes of 6 patients with the macular form of serpiginous choroiditis were evaluated clinically and angiographically in a longitudinal fashion for a period of 12-36 months. The active stage and the recurrences were treated by oral and periocular cortico steroids; and two patients were supplemented with oral azathioprine. Most of these patients were referred to our center with varied diagnoses.


RESULTS
In this group, 4 were male and 2 were female with an average age of 30.5 years. Three patients had bilateral macular lesions, two had typical serpiginous choroiditis in the fellow eye and the remaining one had unilateral macular involvement alone. The initial visual acuity was 6/60 or less in 60% eyes whereas the final visual acuity was 6/18 or better in 66% eyes. Angiographic findings were typical of serpiginous choroiditis characterised by early hypofluorescence followed by leakage and staining of the borders and the lesion itself without any evidence of choroidal ischaemia or retinal vascular abnormalities.


CONCLUSIONS
The macular variant of serpiginous choroiditis can mimic many other macular pathologic lesions, thus posing a diagnostic dilemma. Because of its relentless destructive course, early diagnosis and prompt treatment is required to prevent sight-threatening complications.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply; D002833:Choroiditis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007267:Injections; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014221:Triamcinolone; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine