Abstract
Purpose :
Birdshot chorioretinopathy is a rare bilateral chronic posterior uveitis. Delays in diagnosis and inadequate treatment can cause a significant visual impairment in patients with this disease. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in fixed-luminance (fl) and multi-luminance (ml) flicker electroretinography parameters in patients with active birdshot chorioretinopathy.
Methods :
This study was retrospective observational case series. The electronic charts of patients with the diagnosis of birdshot chorioretinopathy were reviewed. In patients with active disease at presentation, demographic information, first symptoms, duration of disease between the first symptoms and first visit at our clinic, best corrected visual acuity, previous treatments, fl-flicker, and ml-flicker electroretinography parameters were extracted. For statistical analysis (unpaired t-test), the electroretinography parameters of these patients were compared with the same parameters in an age-matched historical control group.
Results :
Six patients and twelve eyes were included in this study. Mean age of the patients was 50.4 (41-62) years. Mean duration between the first symptoms and the first visit at our clinic was 217 (60-446) days. Best corrected visual acuity ranged between 20/15 and 20/40 (mean=20/25) on Snellen acuity chart. Mean of the fl-flicker magnitude and phase were 14.09 (6.42-25.3) microvolt and 298.7 (244.49-330.08) degrees respectively. Mean of the ml-flicker area under curve magnitude and phase were 7.99 (3.82-15.63) and 162.31(130.84-182.23) respectively. The diffrences in the mean of the fl-flicker magnitude, fl-flicker phase, and ml-flicker phase under the curve from the normal population were not statistically significant. (P=0.6, P=0.9, P=055); however, there was a stitistically significant difference between the mean of the ml-flicker magnitude under the curve of the patients and healthy control group. (P=0.003)
Conclusions :
Conclusion: In the early course of active birdshot chorioretinopathy, fl-flicker magnitude, fl-flicker phase, and ml-flicker phase under the curve electroretinography parameters might not be significantly different from the age-matched normal population; however, ml-flicker magnitude under the curve can be significantly different (supernormal) from the normal age-matched group. More potent studies are required to prove our findings.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.