RETINOCHOROIDIAN INVOLVEMENT IN TYPE-II M ESANGIOCAPILLARY GLOMERULONEPHRITIS - INDOCYANINE GREEN ANGIOGRAPHY

Purpose Type II mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis is related to den se deposits within the glomerular basal membrane and the basal membran e of the pigment epithelium (Bruch's membrane). Being a vasculitis, an angiographic study by indocyanine green (ICG) could possibly enlarge the semiologic features of this desease.Methods The indocyanine green angiographic changes in 3 patients with predialitic renal failure due to type II mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (MCGN II) (dense depos it disease) are reported. A complete ophthalmologic examination, elect roretinography, electro-oculography, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography (ICG) were performed for each patient. Results Abnormal h yperfluorescent dots were seen on the same part of the fundus on both fluorescein and ICG angiography, though these locations were different for each of the three patients. These results seem to link the deposi ts to vascular changes within the choriocapillaris, which opposes them to drusen encountered in age related macular degeneration (ARMD). It appears that the choriocapillary lesions could be similar to the glome rular disease. Conclusion Beyond the diagnostic challenges related to the nephrologic disease, it is known that subretinal neovascularizatio n occurs in some cases of MCGN II, although the pathophysiologic mecha nism of the deposits is probably not the same as in ARMD. Therefore, I CG angiography should be performed when MCGN II is first known, servin g as an initial examination for further follow-up.