Punctate inner choroidopathy-associated choroidal neovascular membranes during pregnancy

PURPOSE AND MATERIALS: Punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC), first described by Watzke et al(1), is a disease in young women of child-bearing age. We present three cases of PIC-associated choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) occurring during pregnancy, and discuss associated investigative and treatment dilemmas.

All three patients described showed evidence of recurrence of CNVM during their pregnancy. None underwent FFA but benefited from OCT monitoring. Different therapeutic strategies were adopted in each of our cases. Case 1, with a history of spontaneous CNVM regression, was managed conservatively. Cases 2 and 3 chose steroid treatment to their better-seeing eye. All cases remained stable postpartum.

Management of PIC-related CNVM creates diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The problem is exacerbated as the pathology is often sequentially bilateral and sight threatening. Owing to the rarity of such cases, there is a paucity of evidence on which to base the treatment strategies. A history of pregnancy should always be elicited before investigation with FFA, and women warned of the potential for disease exacerbation with limited therapeutic options during pregnancy.

spontaneous resolution of CNVM is common in PIC, and should be borne in mind while treating pregnant women. Peri/intraocular steroid injection represents a reasonable option for sight-threatening CNVM in the better-seeing eye.