Case Report: Laser speckle flowgraphy in a patient with uveitis due to immune-related adverse events by immune checkpoint inhibitors

Abstract

Purpose: It remains unknown whether choroidal circulation could be altered at the onset of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) uveitis compared with that before ICI treatment. Herein we report a patient with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease-like uveitis in the unaffected eye as an immune-related adverse effect (irAE) due to ICIs for metastatic choroidal melanoma who had received enucleation. Moreover, choroidal circulation and choroidal thickness were measured before and after treatment. Methods: A 58-year-old man had a medical history of enucleation in his left eye due to choroidal melanoma 6 years ago. Metastatic lesions in the gastrointestinal tracts and lung were found, and then he received ICIs three times. About 1 month later, he suffered from blurred vision and metamorphopsia in his right eye. Choroidal circulation was evaluated by mean blur rate (MBR), a relative value showing choroidal blood velocity on laser speckle flowgraphy. Central choroidal thickness (CCT) was measured on optical coherence tomography. Results: Since ophthalmic findings revealed VKH-like uveitis, oral prednisolone of 30 mg was given for 2 weeks, which were then tapered. MBR was reduced and CCT increased at the onset of ICI uveitis compared with its baseline and resolution after corticosteroid treatment. Conclusions: Choroidal circulation was disrupted, possibly due to ICI-induced autoinflammatory reaction to the choroid, which was managed by corticosteroid treatment. The combination of MBR and CCT could be a useful biomarker for managing the patients with VKH-like uveitis by ICIs.