National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Serpiginous choroiditis


Other Names:
Geographic choroiditis; Geographic helicoid peripapillary choroidopathy (GHPC); Geographic serpiginous choroiditis; Geographic choroiditis; Geographic helicoid peripapillary choroidopathy (GHPC); Geographic serpiginous choroiditis; Peripapillary choriopathy; Serpiginous choroidopathy See More
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Serpiginous choroiditis is a rare inflammatory eye condition that typically develops between age 30 and 70 years.[1] Affected individuals have lesions in the eye that last from weeks to months and involve scarring of the eye tissue.[2] Recurrence of these lesions is common in serpiginous choroiditis. Vision loss may occur in one or both eyes when the macula is involved. [3] Treatment options involve anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressing medications.[1][3]
Last updated: 9/16/2013
The cause of serpiginous choroiditis is unknown.[3][4] Speculation exists regarding an association with exposure to various toxic compounds and/or infectious agents.[3][5] Some researchers believe the condition is related to an organ-specific autoimmune inflammatory process.[6]
Last updated: 12/8/2014
No familial predillection or propensity has been described.[2][6]
Last updated: 9/16/2013
There are a few treatment options for individuals with serpiginous choroiditis.[1][2][3] Treatment may involve an anti-inflammatory medication, such as prednisone, or an immune system suppressing combination of prednisone, cyclosporine, and azathioprine. Additionally, the role of cyclosporine alone has been investigated. These treatments may be administered for a long period of time to prevent recurrences. A serious complication of serpiginous choroiditis is choroidal neovascularization. Laser photocoagulation or surgery may be helpful in some of these cases.[3]
Last updated: 9/16/2013

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Serpiginous choroiditis. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Serpiginous choroiditis. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • My mother was diagnosed with serpiginous choroiditis. Can my sibling or I inherit it? Should we go to the doctor? See answer

  • A family member has been told he has serpiginous choroiditis. They tell us that there is no treatment for this disease, and that he will go blind. Is this true? See answer


  1. Serpiginous choroiditis. Digital Reference of Ophthalmology. http://dro.hs.columbia.edu/serpiginous.htm. Accessed 9/16/2013.
  2. Da Mata AP. Serpiginous Choroiditis. Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation. February 1998; http://www.uveitis.org/docs/dm/serpiginous_chroiditis.pdf. Accessed 9/16/2013.
  3. Tewari A, Eliott D. White Dot Syndromes. Medscape Reference. December 10, 2013; http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1227778-overview. Accessed 12/8/2014.
  4. Choroiditis, Serpiginous. National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). 2003; http://www.rarediseases.org/rare-disease-information/rare-diseases/byID/1011/viewAbstract. Accessed 12/8/2014.
  5. Gupta A, Biswas J. Serpiginous choroiditis and acute retinal necrosis occurring in the same patient. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2003; 61(6):303–304. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3744787/. Accessed 12/8/2014.
  6. Khanamiri N, Rao NA. Serpiginous choroiditis and infectious multifocal serpiginoid choroiditis. Surv Ophthalmol. 2013; 58(3):203-32. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23541041. Accessed 12/8/2014.