Idiopathic recurrent neuroretinitis: effects of long-term immunosuppression.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of long-term immunosuppressive therapy in patients with recurrent idiopathic neuroretinitis.


METHODS
A retrospective review of 30 patients with recurrent idiopathic neuroretinitis identified 7 who received ongoing immunosuppression with prednisone and/or azathioprine for whom adequate follow-up information was available. We calculated the number of attacks per unit of time for each patient before and after treatment to derive mean attack rates for the group.


RESULTS
For the entire group, we found a rate of 0.58 attacks per year prior to the initiation of immunosuppressive treatment, which decreased to 0.16 attacks per year following immunosuppression. This represents a reduction in the attack rate of 0.41, or a 72% decrease in attack frequency.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests a possible role for long-term immunosuppressive treatment in patients with recurrent idiopathic neuroretinitis. A longer follow-up interval, more standardized treatment regimens, and additional outcome measures might reveal a greater benefit of treatment.
Purvin
Valerie
V
Midwest Eye Institute and Departmentof Ophthalmology, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46280, USA. Vpurvin@iupui.edu
Ranson
Nicholas
N
Kawasaki
Aki
A
D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012173:Retinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone