Acute multifocal ischaemic choroidopathy and the choriocapillaris

Acute multifocal ischaemic choroidopathy (AMIC) seems to be a better name than acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (A.P.M.P.P.E.). Fluorescein angiography indicates obstruction of the precapillary choroidal arterioles leading to non perfused choriocapillaris lobules and focal swelling of the retinal pigment epithelium at the site of the lesions. Furthermore in many fluorescein angiograms of human patients the specific mosaic pattern of the choriocapillaris can be observed, which was described in monkeys by Hayreh & Baines (7). The choroid has, indeed, an endarterial system. The special conditions in which a well-defined appearance of the choriocapillaris occurs are listed.