Birdshot Chorioretinopathy : Prospective Follow-up and Immunogenetic Studies(CO-BIRD)

The purpose of this study is twofold: 1. To analyze the clinical features of a cohort of patients with birdshot chorioretinopathy (BCR), an inflammatory bilateral ocular disease, affecting the choroid and the retina. Various imaging techniques will be used to assess the effect of the disease on the retina and the choroid. A standardized assessment of the visual function will be performed with visual acuity, visual field and color vision testing. The quality of life of the patients will be evaluated with the VFQ-25 questionnaire. These analyses will help delineating different forms of the disease among its heterogeneous presentations. 2. To identify predisposing factors for the disease. The condition is unique from the immunogenetic standpoint by its association with the HLA-A29 allele, which is the strongest link between an HLA class I antigen and a disease. To date, however, the mechanisms leading to birdshot chorioretinopathy remain unknown. GWAS (Genome Wide association Study) based on DNA of the cohort patients will be performed with the aim to identify other susceptibility genes associated with BCR.