Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

A Metadata Extraction Approach for Clinical Case Reports to Enable Advanced Understanding of Biomedical Concepts
Published on: September 20, 2018
Relentless placoid chorioretinitis associated with Crohn's disease and secondary MEWDS: a case report
Marion Sagnard1, Pierre Gascon1, Alban Comet1
1Ophthalmology Department, Hopital Nord, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France.
Purpose:
To describe a rare case of relentless placoid chorioretinitis (RPC) associated with Crohn's disease, complicated by secondary multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS).
Observations:
A 21-year-old man presented with acute, painless vision loss in the right eye. Multimodal retinal imaging showed numerous active and atrophic placoid lesions involving both the posterior pole and the retinal periphery, consistent with RPC. Systemic evaluation revealed Crohn's disease. Despite intravenous and oral corticosteroids, new extramacular lesions developed and fundus autofluorescence showed stippling compatible with secondary MEWDS. Introduction of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy for Crohn's disease stabilized ocular inflammation. Visual prognosis remained poor in the affected eye and preserved in the fellow eye.
Conclusions And Importance:
This case highlights an association between RPC and Crohn's disease and supports an autoimmune mechanism. Early systemic evaluation and timely initiation of corticosteroid-sparing immunomodulatory therapy may help prevent recurrences and vision-threatening complications.
Insights
This rare case study details relentless placoid chorioretinitis (RPC) in a patient with Crohn's disease, complicated by secondary multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS). Anti-TNF therapy helped stabilize ocular inflammation, underscoring the link between these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Relentless placoid chorioretinitis (RPC) is a rare inflammatory condition affecting the choroid and retina.
- Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with potential extraintestinal manifestations.
- Co-occurrence of RPC and Crohn's disease suggests a potential autoimmune link.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology

