Treatment
Birdshot chorioretinopathy is quite resistant to treatment. Immunosuppressant therapy with corticosteroid-sparing drugs has been somewhat effective in slowing down the progressive inflammation associated with the disorder, preserving visual intregrity as much as possible. Long-term use of such medications must be closely monitored, however, due to the discomforting, and potentially debilitating and life-threatening side-effects.
Recently, the therapeutic monoclonal antibody daclizumab has proven to be a quite effective treatment option for birdshot chorioretinopathy. Substantial reduction, and even stabilization of both vitreous inflammation and retinal vasculitis has been evident via electroretinography, during daclizumab therapy. Loss of visual acuity unrelated to the inflammation caused by the disorder, however, often remains unchanged despite usage of the drug. Contraindications and adverse side-effects are always a factor, as well. Daclizumab was discontinued by Hoffman La Roche on Sept 01, 2009, and is no longer available to the US market.
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