title: White dot syndromes: a 20-year study of incidence, clinical features, and outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the incidence of white dot syndromes (WDS) in a community-based population and to report clinical features and outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter retrospective study using the Rochester Epidemiology Project medical records linkage system of Olmsted County, Minnesota. Databases were searched to identify all patients with WDS from January 1, 1988 through December 31, 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ophthalmic follow-up was 4.5 years and mean general medical follow-up was 9.1 years. The incidence of WDS was 0.45 per 100,000 per year (95% CI 0.19-0.71). Incidence rates for specific disease entities were also calculated. The authors report some associated autoimmune diseases in this series. Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) was more common in females, and acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) was more common in males. Both MEWDS and APMPPE generally carried a good visual prognosis. Fifty percent of cases with APMPPE had a positive history of psoriasis. The only punctuate inner choroidopathy (PIC) case carried that diagnosis as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WDS are rare diseases and may be associated with other autoimmune diseases. Further studies with more patients and longer follow-up periods are needed to draw conclusions about visual prognosis, development of other ocular conditions, and associated medical diseases.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors: Nakhleh E
authors: NE
authors: Abu-Yaghi
authors: Stella P
authors: SP
authors: Hartono
authors: David O
authors: DO
authors: Hodge
authors: Jose S
authors: JS
authors: Pulido
authors: Sophie J
authors: SJ
authors: Bakri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents