HLA-A29–POSITIVE BIRDSHOT CHORIORETINOPATHY IN AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PATIENT. Issue Volume 10:Issues 3(2016:Summer) (2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Knezevic, Alexander; Munk, Marion R.; Pappas, Frankie; Merrill, Pauline T.; Goldstein, Debra A.
• Is Part Of: Retinal cases & brief reports. Volume 10:Issues 3(2016:Summer)
• Publication Date: 2016
• Subjects: birdshot -- choroiditis -- choroidopathy -- HLA-A29 -- race -- uveitis; Retina -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Retina -- Periodicals; Retinal Diseases -- Periodicals; Retina -- Case Reports; Retinal Diseases -- Case Reports; 617.7
• DOI: 10.1097/ICB.0000000000000224
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1935-1089

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: To report the first documented case of HLA-A29–positive birdshot chorioretinopathy in an African American patient. Methods: A 51-year-old African American woman presented with a 10-year history of photopsia, progressive decrease in visual acuity, metamorphopsia, and new nyctalopia. Both fundi showed evidence of periphlebitis, arterial attenuation, macular edema, and diffuse chorioretinal atrophy. Results: Fluorescein angiography revealed diffuse vascular leakage, and indocyanine green showed evenly distributed and symmetrical hypofluorescent spots, which were difficult to appreciate on fundoscopy. Workup revealed a positive HLA-A29 and was negative for sarcoid, tuberculosis, and syphilis. Conclusion: Birdshot chorioretinopathy overwhelmingly affects non-Hispanic Caucasians, but there have been rare reported cases in other ethnicities including Hispanics and African Americans. This patient's ethnicity may have contributed to the 10-year delay in diagnosis. To our knowledge, this is the first documented HLA-A29 positive case of birdshot chorioretinopathy in an African American. HLA-A29 may be a useful supportive test in cases with classic clinical presentation in non-Caucasian patients to enable the correct diagnose in a timely manner. Abstract : The article demonstrates the first documented case of HLA-A29–positive birdshot chorioretinopathy in an African American patient. As such, this article should be of interest to a broad readership including those interested in uveitis, birdshot chorioretinopathy, and implications of race.