High Positive Predictive Value of Fluorescein Angiography Contiguous, Perineural Retinal Vascular Leakage Pattern for Birdshot Chorioretinopathy

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To determine the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of a contiguous, perineural retinal vascular leakage fluorescein angiography (FA) pattern in birdshot chorioretinopathy (BSCR) patients.

Methods

Patients with BSCR and other posterior uveitis/retinal vasculitis and a FA were identified. Two graders reviewed the first FA for leakage primarily around the optic nerve and along the larger arcade vessels. We compared the rates of this pattern in BSCR and non-BSCR patients and calculated sensitivity and PPV. We compared clinical characteristics of BSCR patients with and without this pattern.

Results

64 BSCR and 98 non-BSCR patients were identified. The FA pattern’s sensitivity, specificity, and PPV were 57.8%, 91.8%, and 82.2%. This pattern was significantly more common in BSCR patients earlier in their disease (p = .004).

Conclusions

A contiguous, perineural retinal vascular leakage FA pattern can help identify potential BSCR patients for further testing. This pattern is more common closer to symptom onset.

KEYWORDS:

• Birdshot chorioretinopathy
• fluorescein angiography
• retinal vasculitis
• uveitis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.