Title

PUNCTATE INNER CHOROIDOPATHY REACTIVATION AFTER ANTIANGIOGENIC TREATMENT

Introduction

We present a case of reactivation of punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) complicated by choroidal neovascularization (CNV), after treatment with intravitreal (IV) antiangiogenic alone.

Methods

Case report.

Results

A 42 yrs old woman presented with a central scotoma in her left eye for 20 days. The best-corrected visual acuity (VA) was OD -11.00 SPH 20/25 and OS -11.50 SPH 20/1200. The ophthalmic evaluation revealed foveal hyperpigmentation, RPE/choriocapillaris attenuation, and scarce white subretinal lesions at the posterior pole, suggestive of inactive choroiditis. An OCT-Scan and fluorescein angiography was performed showing subretinal hyperreflective material and early foveal patchy hyperfluorescence indicative of CNV. We assumed CNV secondary to degenerative myopia and IV ranibizumab was administered in the OS, with VA improving to 20/200 after 15 days. The patient did not return at the scheduled 30-day visit, but only after 40 days, complaining of another worsening of VA and photopsy in the same eye (20/1200). The ocular fundus exhibited multiple yellowish-white small lesions, retinal edema without vitreous cellularity, indicative of active PIC. The new OCT-angiography revealed a rapid increase in the subretinal neovascular membrane and fibrosis. Ranibizumab has been injected again, in combination with oral prednisone, resulting in CNV inactivation and partial improvement in VA after 4 weeks (20/800).

Discussion

PIC is an idiopathic inflammatory disorder affecting more commonly myopic women. Sometimes secondary CNV can be challenging to differentiate from myopic choroidal neovascularization. In our case, PIC has become active after the initial treatment with antiangiogenic alone, increasing the size of the CNV membrane shortly after. The use of oral steroids in the initial treatment of inactive choroiditis but symptomatic CNV remains controversial in the literature. Our patient was able to control the inflammation with oral prednisone but the VA remained impaired due to subfoveal scarring.

Keywords

Punctate inner choroidopathy, PIC, white dot syndrome, choroidal neovascularization, CNV, intravitreal antiangiogenic

Area

CLINICAL CASE

Authors

Camillo Carneiro Gusmão, Vicente Hidalgo R. Fernandes, Erick Carneiro de Holanda, Roberto dos Reis, Gustavo Pazeto, Fernando Chaves, Marcelo Paccola, Maurício Abujamra Nascimento