eMedicine Specialties > Ophthalmology > Retina

Acute Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy: Follow-up

Author: Lakshmana M Kooragayala, MD, Vitreo-retinal Surgeon, Marietta Eye Clinic
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 26, 2009

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

  • Monitor the clinical course every 1-2 weeks and for onset of systemic complications.

Inpatient & Outpatient Medications

  • Conservative management is recommended; treat ocular complications or systemic vasculitis as indicated.

Complications

  • Subretinal neovascularization
  • Retinal vein occlusion
  • Death or other permanent neurologic sequelae from cerebral vasculitis; may include muscle paralysis and permanent hearing loss

Prognosis

  • In many patients, visual acuity returns to the range of 20/20 to 20/40; however, a small number of patients have permanent visual loss due to subretinal neovascularization.
  • A few patients have long-term functional ocular symptoms (eg, scotomata).
  • An occasional death has been reported following an episode of cerebral vasculitis.
  • Other ocular and systemic manifestations of vasculitis usually are self-limited and non–life threatening.
  • Chorioretinal scarring usually is associated with few visual symptoms.

Patient Education

  • Reassure the patient that in spite of significant vision loss, the visual decrease is usually transient and many patients regain relatively good vision.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure to recognize cerebral vasculitis to prevent permanent neurologic complications
 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous coauthor, James P Ganley, MD, PharmD, DrPH,to the development and writing of this article.



More on Acute Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy

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References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy, APMPPE, acute multifocal posterior placoid pigment epitheliopathy, AMPPPE, AMPPE, acute placoid pigment epitheliopathy

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Lakshmana M Kooragayala, MD, Vitreo-retinal Surgeon, Marietta Eye Clinic
Lakshmana M Kooragayala, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Retina Specialists, and Medical Association of Georgia
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Andrew A Dahl, MD, Director of Ophthalmology Teaching, Mid-Hudson Family Practice Institute, The Institute for Family Health; Assistant Professor of Surgery (Ophthalmology), New York College of Medicine
Andrew A Dahl, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and Wilderness Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

R Christopher Walton, MD, Professor, Director of Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Disease Service, Department of Ophthalmology, Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education, University of Tennessee College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Regional Medical Center, Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, St Jude Children's Research Hospital
R Christopher Walton, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Healthcare Executives, American Uveitis Society, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and Retina Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Lance L Brown, OD, MD, Ophthalmologist, Affiliated With Freeman Hospital and St John's Hospital, Regional Eye Center, Joplin, Missouri
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Hampton Roy Sr, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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