Autoimmune Retinopathy Diagnosis And Features

Being diagnosed with Autoimmune retinopathy is the start of a potentially traumatic journey that will need lots of support. Autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) is an inflammatory mediated retinopathy characterized by vision loss, scotomas, an area of lost or depressed vision within the visual field, surrounded by an area of less depressed or of normal vision; visual field deficits, photoreceptor dysfunction and the presence of circulating anti-retinal autoantibodies (ARAs). According to Landon Grange (2013), the sine qua non of AIR is the presence of circulating ARAs, which target retinal antigens and are believed to be responsible for the photoreceptor damage, though the precise mechanisms are not entirely understood.Autoimmune Retinopathy Diagnosis And Features AIR can be studied in two groups: paraneoplastic and non-paraneoplastic (npAIR), with paraneoplastic further subdivided into cancer-associated retinopathy and melanoma-associated retinopathy. Paraneoplastic AIR was first described in 1976 and the term “paraneoplastic retinopathy” was coined by Klingele (1984). Evidence suggests that paraneoplastic AIR may be triggered by molecular mimicry between tumor antigens and retinal proteins. Similarly, npAIR may be triggered by molecular mimicry between retinal proteins and presumed viral or bacterial proteins.

Autoimmune Retinopathy is a disease condition which is quite complicated and extremely difficult to diagnose as their presentations are quite variable. An electroretinogram is quite a definite test which can definitively diagnose Autoimmune Retinopathy. Autoimmune Retinopathy Diagnosis And Features

Patients with npAIR typically present with subacute vision loss, scotomas, photopsias, an appearance as of sparks or flashes, in retinal irritation; nyctalopia or night blindness and dyschromatopsia; A condition in which the ability to perceive colors is not fully normal. Visual acuity can be deceivingly good in the early stages. On examination, the fundus may appear unremarkable. Common clinical features in AIR patients include retinal vascular attenuation, diffuse retinal atrophy, retinal pigment epithelial changes and waxy disc pallor. AIR is usually bilateral but it can be asymmetric. Typically there are minimal or no intraocular inflammatory cells.