Low-dose cyclosporine therapy in the treatment of birdshot retinochoroidopathy.

INTRODUCTION: Birdshot retinochoroidopathy is an uncommon uveitic syndrome of presumed autoimmune etiology. Therapy with systemic and periocular steroids is of inconsistent efficacy, attendant with numerous potential long-term side effects. Steroid-sparing strategies with more specific agents such as cyclosporine (Cyclosporin A, CSA) have been suggested as the first line treatment for this disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 19 patients (35 eyes) with the clinical diagnosis of birdshot retinochoroidopathy were examined. Age at onset ranged from 33 to 69 years (mean, 46.1 years) in nine men and ten women. The median follow-up from disease onset was 36 months. Eight patients were treated with low-dose (2.5-5 mg/kg daily) CSA alone, six required the addition of azathioprine (1.5-2 mg/kg daily), and six received no systemic immunosuppressive therapy.

RESULTS: HLA-A29 was positive in 94% (16 of 17) of patients tested. Vitreous inflammation was controlled in 23 (88.5%) treated eyes, with fewer bouts of recurrent inflammation, and a corresponding improvement or stabilization of visual acuity in 20 (83.3%) eyes. In contrast, intraocular inflammation never was controlled fully in untreated eyes, and visual acuity decreased in six (54.5%) eyes by an average of 2.5 Snellen lines. Nephrotoxic side effects of low-dose CSA therapy were not observed, but hypertension developed in two patients.

CONCLUSION: Although the definitive strategy for the management of birdshot retinochoroidopathy is unknown, control of intraocular inflammation with a favorable visual outcome, together with a lack of demonstrable CSA-associated nephrotoxicity and secondary side effects in these patients with birdshot retinochoroidopathy indicate that vision preservation is possible with low-dose CSA alone or in combination with other steroid-sparing immunosuppressive agents as an alternative to the long-term use of corticosteroids.