Fluorescein iris angiography in nodular sarcoid iritis.

The value of fluorescein iris angiography in the diagnosis and follow-up of nodular sarcoid iritis was studied in five patients with nodular iritis and histologically verified generalized sarcoidosis. On the angiograms the sarcoid nodules appeared as hyperfluorescent patches which always exceeded the number of nodules seen by biomicroscopy. Fresh iris nodules were characterized by mild diffuse fluorescence and dilatation and leakage of the adjacent vessels whereas old granulomas were covered by tortuous neovascular vessels which in the active stage of the disease leaked fluorescein profusely. After recovery or between recurrent attacks the amount of leakage decreased or stopped although the neovascular network did not disappear. At recurrences new areas of fluorescence due to fresh nodules were observed in addition to intense leakage from some of the previous lesions. Most of the small nodules were situated in the pupillary part of the iris resulting in dilatation and abnormal permeability of all the peripupillary vessels. The weakness of absence or diffuse leakage from the radial vessels of the iris agrees with the proliferative nature of sarcoid nodular iritis and explains the low-grade symptoms of the patients.