Antimicrobial treatment of presumed ocular tuberculosis

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: Uveitis secondary to a tuberculosis is rarely reported, even in a tertiary a care center. The prevalence of tuberculosis is low in Western Europe and its microbiological identification is difficult. However, anti tuberculosis treatment may be useful when the diagnosis of tuberculosis is presumed. Methods: The clinical records of patients with suspected tuberculosis uveitis referred to the Ophthalmology Department of the Grenoble University, between January 2005 and January 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were included in this series if they received a specific antituberculosis treatment. Results: This series included 10 patients (3M/7F, mean age 54.1). The clinical features of ocular inflammation were: bilateral panuveitis, episcleritis, bilateral posterior uveitis, and pars planitis. Tuberculin skin test, chest computerized tomography, BK sputum, and internal medicine consultation were performed for all patients. The diagnosis of presumed tuberculosis was based upon: history, thoracic imaging, and tuberculin skin test. None had extra‐ocular symptoms. Sputum cultures were negative, 2 adenopathy biopsies confirmed the diagnosis. Nine patients received specific antituberculosis therapy, without systemic steroid therapy. All of them improved; no relapse occurred after 1 to 2 years after the end of therapy. In one case, tuberculosis specific therapy allowed to taper the systemic steroid therapy. Conclusions: The diagnosis of uveitis associated with tuberculosis is difficult since it depends on a spectrum of indirect signs. Bacteriological identification is rarely obtained. In presumed ocular tuberculosis, antituberculosis therapy may be useful to control intraocular inflammation, with or without steroid therapy.