Atypical serpiginous choroiditis
M. S. Blumenkranz, J. D. Gass and J. G. Clarkson
Patients with serpiginous choroiditis may demonstrate atypical features. In
this series 14 (56%) of 53 patients demonstrated either active choroidal
neovascularization (13%) or disciform macular scarring (13%). Despite a
slight excess of male subjects, five of seven patients with active
choroidal neovascularization were female. Three had bilateral disciform
disease. All patients with this complication had visual acuity of 6/60 or
less. None were able to be successfully treated by photocoagulation. One
patient had secondary branch venous obstruction peripherally, associated
with retinal neovascularization. Patients with serpiginous choroiditis are
at risk of losing central vision from either an acute active lesion in the
macula or choroidal neovascularization occurring at the margin of an
inactive chorioretinal scar. Serial examination at regular intervals is
recommended to rule out the development of possibly treatable choroidal
neovascularization in patients with serpiginous choroiditis.
