Necrotizing retinopathy simulating acute retinal necrosis causing rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in sarcoidosis: a case report

PURPOSE. To report on the occurrence of necrotizing type of retinopathy resulting in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in a patient with asymptomatic sarcoidosis. METHODS. A 38-year-old healthy man presented with poor vision of 0.1 in his left eye of 3 days duration and was found to have panuveitis with occlusive periarteritis and inflammatory infiltrates in the peripheral retina. He was diagnosed with asymptomatic systemic sarcoidosis based on blood investigations and total body gallium scan and was treated with pulse methylprednisolone followed by oral steroids. RESULTS. Anterior uveitis, vitritis, and retinal infiltrates resolved with pulse methylprednisolone therapy, and there was complete visual recovery. However, deterioration occurred later with development of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. CONCLUSIONS. Necrotizing retinopathies simulating acute retinal necrosis have not been reported before in patients with sarcoidosis. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2010; 20: 218-20)