title: Short-term Intensive Immunosuppression: A Randomized, Three-arm Study of Intravenous Pulse Methylprednisolone and Cyclophosphamide in Macular Serpiginous Choroiditis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy of pulse cyclophosphamide with pulse dexamethasone in acute macular serpiginous choroiditis (SC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 30 patients with macular SC were prospectively randomized into three treatment groups: group D (pulse dexamethasone); group C (pulse cyclophosphamide); and combination (pulse group DCP) administered for 3 days. Macular SC was defined as any active lesion involving/threatening macula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 30 patients were enrolled, with 10 patients in each group. Lesions completely healed at median duration of 2 weeks in each group, with significant improvement in visual acuity compared with pretreatment levels (p<0.05). Pulse cyclophosphamide was most effective in faster healing of lesions compared with other groups. There was no difference in gain in visual acuity between any of the groups (p = 0.32).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cyclophosphamide may be an effective treatment modality for acute macular SC, though it may not have a long-term effect on disease relapse.
authors.affiliation: a All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) , Ansari Nagar , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Pradeep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Venkatesh
authors.affiliation: b Dr R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences , AIIMS , Ansari Nagar , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Akshay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tayade
authors.affiliation: a All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) , Ansari Nagar , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Varun
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gogia
authors.affiliation: b Dr R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences , AIIMS , Ansari Nagar , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Shikha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: b Dr R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences , AIIMS , Ansari Nagar , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Bhavin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: a All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) , Ansari Nagar , New Delhi , India.
authors.forename: Rajpal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vohra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002833:Choroiditis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D003520:Cyclophosphamide
keywords: Cyclophosphamide; immunosuppression; pulse dexamethasone; serpiginous choroiditis