Diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy among the inhabitants of Brahmaputra Valley of India.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the patient demography and the various fluorescein angiography (FA) features of diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy (DRPE) cases among the inhabitants of the Brahmaputra Valley of India and to see if there is any ethnic variation in its clinical presentation and risk factors.


METHODS
This is a retrospective study in a clinical practice setting with study population of Aryan and Mongoloid races. Data analysis of 30 cases (40 eyes) of DRPE of 262 consecutive cases of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) was done. The various features of these cases were compared and statistically evaluated with the findings of CSC cases with symptom duration of 6 months or more and cases with recurrent episodes.


RESULTS
A total of 11.45% had DRPE that had average symptom duration of 3.50 years. Logistic regression showed high risk for DRPE if sensory retinal detachment (SRD) persists for more than 18 months. Systemic hypertension was another significant risk factor, whereas multiple RPE leaks appeared to be weakly significant. DRPE was predominant in eyes of patients having first acute episode of CSC in later age and fairly large retinal pigment epithelial detachments (PEDs) contributed to its development. Role of exogenous corticosteroid, retinotoxic drugs, and tobacco consumption could not be assessed properly due to inadequate sample size.


CONCLUSIONS
The main factor for the development of DRPE is the persistence of SRD for more than 1.50 years. Fairly large leaking PED and onset of primary CSC in later age appear to contribute towards its development. Except for these, no major variation from Western studies was observed.
Bujarborua
D
D
Pragjyoti Eye Care and Research Centre, Gauhati University, Guwahati, India. dhirenbujarborua@rediffmail.com
Choudhury
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000473:pathology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors