[Clinical course of ocular sarcoidosis in patients with histologically proven systemic sarcoidosis]

We reviewed the clinical features, natural history and visual prognosis of 9 patients with histologically confirmed ocular and systemic sarcoidosis.

Nine patients underwent a follow-up study between 1993 and 1998. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis was supported by histological evidence of non caseating epithelioid-cell granuloma in tissue biopsy.

The mean age was 40.912 years. The mean follow-up was 22.7 months (range 6 - 54 months). The ophthalmic involvement was bilateral in 8 patients. Before treatment, 3 eyes (17.6%) had a visual acuity less than 1/10. Two eyes (11.7%) had a visual acuity less than 3/10 and 10 eyes (58.8%) more than 6/10. The anterior uveitis was granulomatous in 2 eyes (11.7%) and non granulomatous in 8 eyes (47%). Five eyes (29.4%) had a pars planitis. The posterior segment manifestations of sarcoidosis were retinal vasculitis in 7 eyes (41.1%), papillitis in 10 eyes (58.8%) and choroidal granulomas in 2 eyes (11.7%). Seven patients were treated with systemic corticosteroids. One patient was treated with steroid eye-drops. After treatment, one eye (5.8%) had a visual acuity less than 1/10 and 13 eyes more than 6/10. After treatment, the choroidal granulomas disappeared and the intra-ocular inflammation was controlled in all cases.

Although the number of patients in our series is small, the prognosis for ocular sarcoidosis appears to be good.