Indocyanine green angiographic findings in systemic lupus erythematosus choroidopathy

PURPOSE: To report two patients affected with systemic lupus erythematosus choroidopathy studied with combined fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography. In particular, the presence of choroidal abnormalities at indocyanine green angiography, which could not be detected by fluorescein angiography, was studied. DESIGN: Observational case reports. METHODS: Retrospective review of the clinical and photographic records of two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in whom choroidopathy developed. RESULTS: Four findings were unveiled by indocyanine green angiography: focal, transient hypofluorescent areas in the very early phase; fuzziness of large choroidal vessels with late diffuse zonal choroidal hyperfluorescence; poorly-defined areas of choroidal hypofluorescence visible up to the late phase; and focal cluster of pinpoint spots of choroidal hyperfluorescence visible from the intermediate to late phase. CONCLUSION: Indocyanine green angiography can provide information that is not detectable by clinical or fluorescein angiographic examination in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus choroidopathy. This information may prove useful in better understanding the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus choroidopathy.