Long-term follow-up of drusen-like lesions in patients with type II mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis.
BACKGROUND
Drusen-like lesions beneath the retina in patients with partial lipodystrophy and type II mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (MCGN) were first reported in 1989. This study reports the long-term follow-up of this original cohort of patients more than 10 years later.


METHODS
Three patients had undergone renal transplantation. Retinopathy was graded semiquantitatively using an international classification and grading system. Progression was assessed by comparing the visual acuities and the colour, red-free and fluorescein angiographic photographs at baseline and review.


RESULTS
The visual acuity in all four patients was unchanged, as were the bilateral drusen-like lesions. The retinal pigment hypertrophy at the posterior pole of two of the patients was also unchanged. There were no signs of choroidal neovascularisation or central serous retinopathy in any patient. There was no progression of retinopathy over 10 years in any patient.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that in patients with type II MCGN, (a) factors other than drusen may contribute to choroidal neovascularisation and (b) renal transplantation does not appear to increase the risk of progression of retinopathy.
D'souza
Y
Y
Academic Unit, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WH, UK. yvonnedsouza@fsmail.net
Short
C D
CD
McLeod
D
D
Bonshek
R E
RE
D000328:Adult; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015432:Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015593:Retinal Drusen / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity