Choroidal neovascularization in acquired partial lipodystrophy

PURPOSE. To report a case of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with acquired partial lipodystrophy (PLD). METHODS, A 55-year-old woman with a known history of PLD presented with acute onset visual loss affecting her right eye and underwent investigations to diagnose the underlying pathology. RESULTS. Fluorescein angiography and time-domain optical coherence tomography demonstrated the presence of intraretinal edema consistent with CNV. The patient was treated with intravitreal ranibizumab with excellent results, and her vision remains unimpaired 4 years posttreatment. CONCLUSIONS. Choroidal neovascularization is an angiogenic process that can occur following retinal pigment epithelium disruption of any cause. These vessels may then bleed into retinal tissue, with potentially devastating visual consequences. Although rare, PLD has been associated with retinal drusenoid lesions. This is the first case to report CNV in association with PLD, and highlights the importance of considering CNV in the differential diagnosis of acute visual loss in patients with drusenoid diseases such as PLD.