Abstract
Purpose :
Birdshot chorioretinopathy (BCR) is a rare chronic posterior uveitis that is strongly associated with HLA-A*29..To date, no robust incidence studies of BCR have been undertaken. The purpose of this study is to perform the first epidemiological study of BCR in a high prevalence region.
Methods :
In collaboration with the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit, questionnaires to all consultant ophthalmologists in the United Kingdom (UK) were sent to identify new cases diagnosed from May 2017 to current date. Presenting demographics, symptoms, and ocular signs were collected.
Results :
Out of 50 questionnaires sent, 29 were correctly completed and included in this report. Cases were clustered around major population centres. The female (F): male (M) ratio was 3.8:1, with a female age range between 36-72 years, and a male age range between 38-72 years. Percentage of patients (%F vs %M) reporting symptoms of poor vision were 74%F vs 100%M, floaters (83%F vs 67%M), and photopsia (30%F vs 50%M). Median acuity on presentation of males (median LogMAR 0.35, range 0.1-0.77) was slightly worse compared to females (median LogMAR 0.25, range 0-0.63), possibly because of a higher prevalence of cystoid macular oedema in males (67%M vs 40%F). Of ethnicities recorded, all were Caucasian and European - born. All patients were HLA-A29 positive.
Conclusions :
Our results show that in the UK, BCR is most commonly a disease of middle-aged Caucasian females. Despite this female preponderance, males present with poorer visual acuity than females, and have higher rates of cystoid macular oedema on presentation.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.