SLE retinopathy: evaluation by fluorescein angiography.

Fifty-two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were examined by fluorescein angiography, and retinopathy was detected in 15. Three patterns of retinopathy were discerned: 4 patients had disc vasculitis, 6 had multiple cotton-wool spots, and 5 had a normal fundal appearance but fluorescein leakage on angiography. One patient had arterial occlusive disease with retinal neovascularisation and another had extensive venous disease. With 3 exceptions retinopathy was found only in patients with active SLE. No association was discovered between retinopathy and cerebral disease; in particular, fluorescein angiography did no assist the diagnosis of mild cerebral lupus.