Short-term Intensive Immunosuppression: A Randomized, Three-arm Study of Intravenous Pulse Methylprednisolone and Cyclophosphamide in Macular Serpiginous Choroiditis.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of pulse cyclophosphamide with pulse dexamethasone in acute macular serpiginous choroiditis (SC).

METHODS: A total of 30 patients with macular SC were prospectively randomized into three treatment groups: group D (pulse dexamethasone); group C (pulse cyclophosphamide); and combination (pulse group DCP) administered for 3 days. Macular SC was defined as any active lesion involving/threatening macula.

RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were enrolled, with 10 patients in each group. Lesions completely healed at median duration of 2 weeks in each group, with significant improvement in visual acuity compared with pretreatment levels (p<0.05). Pulse cyclophosphamide was most effective in faster healing of lesions compared with other groups. There was no difference in gain in visual acuity between any of the groups (p = 0.32).

CONCLUSIONS: Cyclophosphamide may be an effective treatment modality for acute macular SC, though it may not have a long-term effect on disease relapse.