title: Unilateral choroidal neovascular membrane as a herald lesion for Crohn's disease.
abstract: Crohn's disease is a diffuse inflammatory disease primarily affecting the gastrointestinal tract but with associated ophthalmologic complications that often appear after the initial diagnosis. The authors report a case in which the appearance of a choroidal neovascular membrane prior to the final diagnosis of Crohn's disease suggests its role as an advance lesion heralding an inflammatory state. A 13-year-old boy was referred for evaluation of a clinically isolated, unilateral choroidal neovascular membrane, which stabilized after treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab. Two years later, the patient was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Choroidal neovascular membranes, reported previously as a complication of Crohn's disease following diagnosis, may be a precursor lesion.
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Andres A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Emanuelli
authors.forename: Audina M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Berrocal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab