HLA-B27-associated uveitis with a chorioretinitis manifestation.

Author(s): Lin JY, Lin SL, Chen WL, Chen YS

Affiliation(s): Department of Ophthalmology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Publication date & source: 2005-03, Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging., 36(2):158-62.

Publication type: Case Reports

A 29-year-old man who had been treated for acute anterior uveitis in a local medical office and observed for 1 month presented complaining of distorted vision in his left eye for 1 week. On ophthalmic examination, the anterior segment was relatively quiet with few cells. A posterior segment examination revealed cystoid macular edema and multiple splinter retinal hemorrhages. Results of all laboratory and imaging studies were negative, except for a positive HLA-B27 haplotype. Fluorescein angiography revealed massive leakage in the mid and late phase, consistent with chorioretinitis. Periocular corticosteroid injections and oral prednisolone were administered. The patient responded to the treatment well with subsequent resolution of chorioretinitis 2 months later. Although rare, chorioretinitis can occur in the setting of uveitis associated with HLA-B27 and seems to respond well to corticosteroid treatment.