Subclinical Choroidal Inflammation Revealed by Indocyanine Green Angiography in Tubulointerstitial Nephritis and Uveitis Syndrome

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2022 Jul;30(5):1190-1198. doi: 10.1080/09273948.2020.1869267. Epub 2021 Jun 30.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe subclinical chorioretinal lesions revealed by indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and their evolution under systemic treatment in tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis (TINU) patients.

Methods: Retrospective case series of three patients with TINU syndrome. Choroidal and retinal involvement were assessed by fluorescein angiography (FA) and ICGA.

Results: Three patients were analyzed. FA demonstrated hot disc, associated in two cases with retinal vascular leakage, and ICGA revealed subclinical chorioretinal dots in all three cases. Given the presence of posterior uveitis and deterioration of kidney function, asystemic treatment by oral methylprednisolone was started. Persistence of retinal and choroidal inflammations under systemic corticosteroids required association with immunosuppressive agent to control the disease activity.

Conclusion: Multimodal imaging and more precisely ICGA is useful to assess subclinical choroidal inflammation and monitor treatment response in TINU syndrome. Immunosuppression needs to be revised and adapted when uveitis and/or kidney function are unresponsive to systemic steroids.

Abbreviations: TINU: tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis; TIN: tubulointerstitial nephritis; ACE: angiotensin-converting enzyme; RF: rheumatoid factor; Uβ2M: urinary β-2microglobulin; AMPPE: acute multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy; FA: fluorescein angiography; ICGA: indocyanine green angiography; CT: computed tomography.

Keywords: Tubulointerstitial nephritis; immunosuppression; inflammation; uveitis.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Angiotensins
  • Fluorescein Angiography / methods
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Indocyanine Green
  • Inflammation
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Nephritis, Interstitial* / diagnosis
  • Nephritis, Interstitial* / drug therapy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rheumatoid Factor
  • Uveitis* / diagnosis
  • Uveitis* / drug therapy

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Angiotensins
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Indocyanine Green
  • Methylprednisolone
  • Rheumatoid Factor

Supplementary concepts

  • Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis