Comparison of retinal and choroidal involvement in sarcoidosis-related chorioretinitis using fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the involvement of the retina with that of the choroid in ocular sarcoidosis (OS) using dual fluorescein angiography (FA)/indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). Methods: A retrospective study of 23 patients with the diagnosis of OS was performed. Angiographic signs were quantified following the established FA/ICGA scoring system for uveitis. Results: The choroid was predominantly involved in 19 (82.6%) patients or 87% (40/46) of the eyes, and the retina in 2 (8.7%) patients or 13% (6/46) of the eyes. The mean angiographic score was 7.15 ± 4.5 for the retina (FA) compared to 14.02 ± 4.86 for the choroid (ICGA) (P < 0.0001). In 13% (3/23) of patients, FA did not show retinal inflammation, whereas ICGA was strongly positive, revealing occult choroidal lesions. Conclusion: The choroid is preferentially involved in OS, for which ICGA is the examination of choice. There is a risk of underestimating the global ocular involvement and of missing choroidal involvement if only FA is used. FA/ICGA scoring system allows for quantitative assessment of inflammation in the posterior uvea that occurs in OS; therefore, the system can be useful to quantitatively monitor outcomes in clinical trials.

Keywords

• Angiographic Score; Chorioretinitis; Fluorescein Angiography; Indocyanine Green Angiography; Ocular Sarcoidosis