1. Retrospective analysis of the natural history and management of serpiginous choroiditis in Australia and New Zealand.
- Author
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Toniolo J, Hall AJ, Sims J, Fraser-Bell S, Khan J, Younan C, Kent-Smith B, Young S, Paul E, and Lim LL
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Australia epidemiology, Choroiditis diagnosis, Cohort Studies, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Incidence, Male, Middle Aged, New Zealand epidemiology, Prevalence, Recurrence, Retrospective Studies, White People, Choroiditis drug therapy, Choroiditis epidemiology, Glucocorticoids therapeutic use, Immunosuppressive Agents therapeutic use
- Abstract
Background: To examine the prevalence of serpiginous choroidopathy in a predominantly Caucasian community, to examine associations between serpiginous choroiditis and other systemic diseases, and to report on the effect of immunosuppression on the long-term course of serpiginous choroiditis., Design: Retrospective cohort study with patients from tertiary care centres and private practices., Participants: 18 patients, mean age 48 years at baseline. One patient was seen only once. Median follow-up was 69 months (5.8 years, range 0.4-29.7 years)., Methods: Patients were identified using the Australian and New Zealand Ophthalmic Surveillance Unit. A chart analysis was performed for all patients. Three treatment groups were identified: no treatment, prednisolone monotherapy, or combination of prednisolone and immunosuppression. Negative binomial regression was used to calculate incidence rate ratios for patient relapse., Main Outcome Measures: Patient demographics, clinical features, associated systemic diseases, treatments administered and dates of relapse., Results: The disease prevalence in Australia and New Zealand is 1 case per 1.5 million people. Five cases (28%) had a positive QuantiFERON. A total of 32 relapses were observed: 14 while receiving no treatment, 11 on prednisolone and 7 on combination therapy. Compared with the no treatment group, the incidence rate ratio for prednisolone monotherapy and combination therapy was 1.29 and 2.92, respectively (95% confidence interval 0.40-4.14 and 0.96-8.88)., Conclusion: Although the confidence intervals indicate that the difference in incidence rate ratios are not significant, these results suggest that there is a group of patients who have a benign course without long-term immunosuppression or corticosteroid treatment., (© 2013 Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists.)
- Published
- 2014
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