[Multifocal choroiditis: diagnostic aspects and results of photocoagulation. Apropos of 25 cases].

A retrospective study was conducted on 25 patients who presented with both recurrent multifocal choroiditis and subretinal neovascularisation. As in other series, striking features were the young age of the patients (mean age 33 years), frequent recurrences of the macular lesions during a limited follow-up period, inflammation of the vitreous or the optic disk, and macular fibrosis. However, unlike previously reported data, refraction was more often in the emetropic range, there was no female predominance, and inflammatory signs were mild or limited to papillitis. Moreover serologic tests did not indicate an acute infection due to Epstein-Barr virus in any of the patients. This study also emphasized the results of Krypton laser treatment of the subretinal neovascularisation. Final visual acuity improved or remain the same in 26 eyes (72%) and worsened in 11 eyes (28%) during a mean follow-up period of 13 months (range 2-48 months). The best results were obtained in 15 eyes with neovascular membranes located more than 200 mu from the foveal avascular zone (mean final visual acuity: 20/40). However the mean final visual acuity of the nine eyes with neovascular membranes closer than 200 mu from the FAZ, was over 20/60. Recurrences of subretinal neovascularisation occurred in 7 out of 24 treated eyes and 3 were under the center of the FAZ. These results should be confirmed by a randomized prospective clinical trial in order to assess the benefits of laser treatment in recurrent multifocal choroiditis.