Bilateral persistent placoid maculopathy following COVID-19 vaccines: real or coincidence?
Abstract
COVID-19 vaccinations have been accompanied by reports of inflammatory uveitis. Herein, we report the first case of bilateral persistent placoid maculopathy (PPM) following COVID-19 vaccinations in a previously healthy 58-year-old man who presented with bilateral decrease in vision approximately 2 weeks after the second dose of AstraZenaca® ChAdOx1-S/nCoV-19 vaccine. Fundus examination revealed bilateral well-delineated whitish plaque-like macular lesions involving the fovea. Clinical and multimodal imaging findings were suggestive of PPM. Infective and autoimmune screen were all negative except for a raised MPO-ANCA. Medical review excluded systemic autoimmune and infectious diseases. Patient was monitored closely and his visual acuity improved and stabilised after a tapering regime of oral prednisolone. Mycophenolate mofetil was given as long-term steroid sparing immunosuppression. Our case demonstrated a likely localised autoimmune inflammatory response to the COVID-19 vaccine affecting choriocapillaris. Further research is needed to clarify the association between COVID-19 vaccines and inflammatory placoid lesions of the retina.
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Date
2023-08
Type
Article
Subject
COVID-19, persistent placoid maculopathy, vaccine
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Citation
Chean, C. S., Ali, E., Kulkarni, P., Kapoor, B., & Kumar, P. (2023). Bilateral Persistent Placoid Maculopathy Following COVID-19 Vaccines: Real or Coincidence?. Ocular immunology and inflammation, 31(6), 1273–1278. https://doi.org/10.1080/09273948.2023.2170889