Fluorescein Angiographic Findings in Patients with Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate the retina of patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), irrespective of their visual acuity or fundus examination.

Methods: A descriptive study was performed on 30 patients with active SLE; disease activity was calculated using The Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Fundus examination and FFA angiography were done to all patients.

Results: A total of 60 eyes of 30 patients were included. Their mean age was 32.6 ± 1.17 years. All patients showed disease activity at time of examination according to SLEDAI. Retinopathy was detected by FAF in 24 eyes (40%), 10 eyes of which had normal fundus examination. SLEDAI was positively correlated to the presence of retinopathy.

Conclusions: All patients with ocular lupus should be carefully evaluated for systemic involvement and, vice versa, all patients diagnosed with SLE should have a thorough ocular examination and FFA, even if they had normal fundus.

Keywords:

• Fundus fluorescein angiography
• retinopathy
• systemic lupus erythematous

This article is referred to by:

Retinal Vasculitis in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Response to Ghembaza and Lounici’s Letter: “Retinal Vasculitis in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to acknowledge Dr Magdy Ibrahim, Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Cairo University, for his statistical consultation and assistance.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.