Serpiginous choroiditis

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Prab R. Tumpati, MD — Editor-in-Chief, WikiMD Medical Encyclopedia
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Serpiginous choroiditis
Synonyms	Geographic helicoid peripapillary choroidopathy
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Visual impairment, scotoma, photopsia
Complications	Choroidal neovascularization, vision loss
Onset	Typically between ages 30-70
Duration	Chronic
Types	N/A
Causes	Unknown, possibly autoimmune
Risks	Possible association with HLA-B7 and HLA-DR2
Diagnosis	Fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography
Differential diagnosis	Birdshot chorioretinopathy, multifocal choroiditis, acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Variable, can lead to significant vision loss
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Serpiginous choroiditis is a rare, chronic, progressive inflammatory condition that affects the choroid of the eye. It is characterized by irregularly shaped (serpiginous) lesions that can lead to severe vision loss.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of serpiginous choroiditis is a gradual, painless loss of vision. Other symptoms may include photopsia (flashes of light), scotoma (blind spots), and metamorphopsia (distorted vision).

Causes

The exact cause of serpiginous choroiditis is unknown. It is thought to be an autoimmune disease, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the eye.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of serpiginous choroiditis is primarily based on clinical findings, including the characteristic appearance of the lesions on fundus photography and fluorescein angiography. Other diagnostic tests may include optical coherence tomography and indocyanine green angiography.

Treatment

Treatment for serpiginous choroiditis typically involves the use of corticosteroids to reduce inflammation. Other treatments may include immunosuppressive drugs and laser photocoagulation.

Prognosis

The prognosis for serpiginous choroiditis is variable. Some individuals may experience only mild vision loss, while others may become legally blind. The condition is chronic and progressive, meaning it tends to worsen over time.

See also

• Choroiditis
• Uveitis
• Retina