title: Choroidal degeneration in birdshot chorioretinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to determine if progressive choroidal changes occur in birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review of all patients with BSCR who were seen over a 3-year period. Controls consisted of healthy age-matched and gender-matched patients. Choroidal thickness at baseline and final follow-up visit was measured with the use of optical coherence tomography. Results were analyzed using univariate and multivariable statistical models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 11 patients (22 eyes) with BSCR were identified. The majority of BSCR eyes (86%) had clinically inactive disease. Follow-up ranged from 2 months to 27 months. Mean age was 55 years. Patients with BSCR had significantly thinner choroid compared with controls (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the rate of choroid thinning for patients diagnosed with BSCR (2.68 μm per month) was significantly higher than that of controls (0.27 μm per month) (P = 0.003). There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of choroidal thinning between the two eyes of patients with BSCR (P = 0.859), indicating that the choroidal thinning was symmetrical.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite having clinically inactive uveitis, eyes with BSCR can develop progressive choroidal thinning. The clinical relevance of this choroidal thinning, or degeneration, remains to be fully elucidated.
authors: *Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and †Rick Hansen Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Mei
authors: M
authors: Young
authors: Nader
authors: N
authors: Fallah
authors: Farzin
authors: F
authors: Forooghian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000080365:Birdshot Chorioretinopathy; D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000150:complications*; D015862:Choroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence