[Acute multifocal placoid pigment epitheliitis of the retina (author's transl)]

Abstract

Two cases of acute, multifocal, placoid, pigment epitheliitis, are described. In acute multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (AMPPE) visual acuity falls precipitously, accompanied by whitish, confluent, blurry lesions of the posterior pole retina. On fluorescein angiography, these lesions characteristically block the normal choroidal flush. Visual acuity improves over a period of months, in spite of heavy residual chorioretinal scarring. In acute pigment epitheliitis, visual acuity also drops suddenly, but the objective findings are limited to slight depigmentation of the foveal area, especially visible in early stages of fluorescein angiography. Vision improves over a period of weeks. These diseases of the retinal pigment epithelium must be correctly diagnosed, since their visual prognosis is far better than that of central chorioretinitis or other macular diseases.