Clinical spectrum of tuberculous optic neuropathy

Infectious optic neuropathy (ION), how to recognise it and manage it

Optic neuropathy can be of infectious or non-infectious/idiopathic aetiology. Many infectious organisms can cause optic neuropathy that can be of varied presentation including papillitis, retrobulbar optic neuritis, neuroretinitis, and optic perineuritis. Detailed history, ocular, systemic/neurologic examination along with appropriate laboratory evaluation can help clinicians to identify the infectious agent causing optic neuropathy. In spite of recent advanced techniques in serological testing and molecular diagnostics like polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the identification of these pathogens is still a diagnostic challenge. It is ideal to have an infectious disease (ID) consultant in the management team, as most of these infections are multisystem involving diseases. Most infectious agents can be effectively treated with specific antibiotics, with or without corticosteroid therapy, but visual recovery is highly variable and depends entirely on early diagnosis of the causative agent. This review article will provide an overview of common pathogens involved in ION and will describe their management paradigms.

Clinical manifestation and long-term follow-up of presumed ocular tuberculosis in China

Background

This study aimed to report the clinical manifestations of presumed ocular tuberculosis (OTB) and the treatment response after anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) in a Chinese population.

Methods

Clinical data, including general characteristics, ocular lesions, visual acuity at baseline, and final follow-up of patients with presumed OTB from 2006 to 2022 in two eye clinics in China, were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

The study included 84 eyes of 52 patients. The following ocular manifestations were observed: anterior uveitis (4.8%), posterior uveitis (34.5%), panuveitis (11.9%), retinal vasculitis (40.5%) and optic neuropathy (8.3%). After ATT, the vision improved by varying degrees in 48 eyes (57.1%), remained stable in 34 eyes (40.5%) and decreased in 2 eyes (2.4%).

Conclusions

OTB is likely to be misdiagnosed as other infectious uveitis and optic neuropathy. Clinical features must be interpreted in conjunction with topical and general laboratory findings and in collaboration with other subspecialties to make a final diagnosis.

The Neuro-Ophthalmology of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health concern and central nervous system (CNS) TB leads to high mortality and morbidity. CNS TB can manifest as tubercular meningitis, tuberculoma, myelitis, and arachnoiditis. Neuro-ophthalmological involvement by TB can lead to permanent blindness, ocular nerve palsies and gaze restriction. Visual impairment is a dreaded complication of tubercular meningitis (TBM), which can result from visual pathway involvement at different levels with varying pathogenesis. Efferent pathway involvement includes cranial nerve palsies and disorders of gaze. The purpose of this review is to outline the various neuro-ophthalmological manifestations of TB along with a description of their unique pathogenesis and management. Optochiasmatic arachnoiditis and tuberculomas are the most common causes of vision loss followed by chronic papilloedema. Abducens nerve palsy is the most commonly seen ocular nerve palsy in TBM. Gaze palsies with deficits in saccades and pursuits can occur due to brainstem tuberculomas. Corticosteroids are the cornerstone in the management of paradoxical reactions, but other immunomodulators such as thalidomide and infliximab are being explored. Toxic optic neuropathy caused by ethambutol necessitates careful monitoring and immediate drug discontinuation. Cerebrospinal fluid diversion through ventriculo-peritoneal shunting may be required in patients with hydrocephalus in stage I and II of TBM to prevent visual impairment. Early diagnosis and prompt management are crucial to prevent permanent disability. Prevention strategies, public health initiatives, regular follow-up and timely intervention are essential in reducing the burden of CNS TB and its neuro-ophthalmological complications.

Presumptive ocular tuberculosis: A case series of rare cases

Ocular tuberculosis (TB) may present with various clinical manifestations and may involve any part of the eye. In 80% of cases, pulmonary involvement is not found. Here, we are presenting three cases of presumptive ocular TB with three rare manifestations. The first case is of bilateral retinal detachment involving one eye after another, the second case is of tubercular phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis with keratolysis, and the third case is of bilateral neuroretinitis with extensive cerebral involvement. Despite the availability of various tests, clinical findings, tuberculin skin test, chest X-ray, and computed tomography of the chest is still the primary basis of diagnosis of ocular TB in the tubercular endemic area, even in rare cases.

Neurosarcoidosis: Diagnostic Challenges and Mimics A Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Neurosarcoidosis is a rare manifestation of sarcoidosis that is challenging to diagnose. Biopsy confirmation of granulomas is not sufficient, as other granulomatous diseases can present similarly. This review is intended to guide the clinician in identifying key conditions to exclude prior to concluding a diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although new biomarkers are being studied, there are no reliable tests for neurosarcoidosis. Advances in serum testing and imaging have improved the diagnosis for key mimics of neurosarcoidosis in certain clinical scenarios, but biopsy remains an important method of differentiation. Key mimics of neurosarcoidosis in all cases include infections (tuberculosis, fungal), autoimmune disease (vasculitis, IgG4-related disease), and lymphoma. As neurosarcoidosis can affect any part of the nervous system, patients should have a unique differential diagnosis tailored to their clinical presentation. Although biopsy can assist with excluding mimics, diagnosis is ultimately clinical.

Optic Nerve Head Infiltration in Presumed Tuberculous Uveitis

To report the clinical and multimodal imaging findings of presumed tuberculous optic nerve head (ONH) infiltration in 3 patients at a tertiary eye care center. In addition to unilateral presumed tuberculous ONH infiltration, all patients had clinical findings suggestive of tuberculous choroidal involvement which was confirmed by Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). All patients were treated successfully with a combination of antituberculous regimen and systemic corticosteroids.

Clinical Profile of Optic Neuritis in Malaysian Patients Older Than 45 Years of Age

Introduction

Optic neuritis (ON) is a blinding inflammatory disease of the optic nerve, typically affecting young adults as described in the Optic Neuritis Treatment Trial (ONTT). However, there is limited information describing ON in patients older than 45 years of age. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical profile of ON in this age group in Malaysia.

Methods

A retrospective case series study was performed between January 2014 and December 2018 among patients older than 45 years old, treated as ON in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia. Clinical features, visual acuity, imaging, laboratory results, aetiologies, and visual outcomes were analyzed.

Results

This study comprised 17 patients (20 eyes) with a gender distribution of eight males and nine females. The mean age of ON onset was 55.8 ± 7.7 years (46-80 years). Most patients (94.1%) presented with reduced vision and retroorbital pain, and three patients (17.6%) had bilateral eye involvement. Papillitis was observed in 13 eyes (65%), retrobulbar ON in five eyes (25%), and optic atrophy in two eyes. Presenting visual acuity was moderately correlated with final visual outcome (rs= 0.47, n = 20, p < 0.05). Post-treatment visual improvement (good and slight) was reported in 14 eyes (70%), four (20%) had no improvement while the remaining two eyes (10%) had worsening best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Infective causes accounted for 23.5% of cases (one ocular syphilis, two ocular tuberculosis, and one case of toxoplasmosis). Most cases (70.6%) were idiopathic ON, and only one case was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Conclusion

ON in Malaysian patients older than 45 years of age has no gender predilection and is most likely to be idiopathic; however, infective ON must still be ruled out. Overall visual outcomes were satisfactory. Among the infective causes, ocular tuberculosis caused poor visual recovery as compared with syphilitic and toxoplasmosis-related ON cases.

Neuro-ophthalmic manifestations of tuberculosis

Neuro-ophthalmic features are a known association in tuberculosis, especially common in central nervous system tuberculosis (CNS-TB). They are mostly the result of the visual pathway and/or ocular motor and other cranial nerve involvement. Furthermore, toxic optic neuropathy and paradoxical response to anti-tubercular drugs (ATT) are also not uncommon. The etiopathogenesis is by the complex interplay of various factors like exudates, vasculitis, arachnoiditis, presence of tuberculomas, hydrocephalus, brain infarcts and/or immune-mediated reaction. The entity often poses a diagnostic dilemma for the ophthalmologists/neuro-ophthalmologists and may lead to irreversible vision loss. The presence of neuro-ophthalmic features not only affect the visual outcome but are also predictors of systemic morbidity of the disease. Therefore, understanding and knowledge about this entity are necessary for the comprehensive management of the disease. While various forms of TB including CNS-TB have been well-dealt with in literature, little is discussed specifically about the neuro-ophthalmic manifestations of tuberculosis. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to highlight current understanding of the types of neuro-ophthalmic involvement in tuberculosis, its etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and management.

Neuromyelitis optica and concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis: a case report

Background

Concomitant diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease and pulmonary tuberculosis has rarely been reported.

Case report

We report a case involving a young Tunisian male patient who developed dry cough followed, 2 months later, by weakness in the lower limbs. The findings of central nervous system imaging and anti-aquaporin-4 antibody positivity were compatible with the diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease. Constellation of the clinical and the typical radiological pulmonary findings in our patient, coming from an endemic region, allowed the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, although sputum smear examination for acid-fast bacilli and cultures was negative. The patient received anti-tuberculous polytherapy associated with immunomodulation, consisting of methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulins. Pulmonary infection symptoms initially improved but with no motor recovery. The patient suddenly died at home 4 months after the onset of the first symptoms. Current data regarding the clinical presentation of this underreported concomitant or associated condition, the possible pathophysiological mechanisms, and the therapeutic options were reviewed.

Conclusions

This case underscores the necessity to understand the exact mechanism of these coincident entities and to clarify the best immunomodulatory choice since immunosuppression targeting neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease can lead to dissemination of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Bilateral optic neuritis as a first presentation of lymph node tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) may affect the nervous system in many ways. We describe an immunocompetent teenage girl with lymph node TB who had first presented with bilateral optic neuritis. Detailed history identified features inconsistent with immune-mediated optic neuritis. Several unusual features prompted further investigation, including transient visual obscurations without raised intracranial pressure, prominent disc swelling and absence of laboratory findings to support an immune-mediated cause. Whole body PET/MR imaging identified widespread mediastinal and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy. Despite no known TB contacts, a negative interferon gamma release assay and a normal chest X-ray, a targeted lymph node biopsy confirmed TB.

Optic neuritis classification in 2021

Optic neuritis (ON) can be associated with inflammatory disease of the central nervous system or can be isolated, with or without relapse. It can also be associated with infectious or systemic disease. These multiple associations based on a variety of clinical, radiological, and biological criteria that have changed over time have led to overlapping phenotypes: a single ON case can be classified in several ways simultaneously or over time. As early, intensive treatment is often required, its diagnosis should be rapid and precise. In this review, we present the current state of knowledge about diagnostic criteria for ON aetiologies in adults and children, we discuss overlapping phenotypes, and we propose a homogeneous classification scheme. Even if distinctions between typical and atypical ON are relevant, their phenotypes are largely overlapping, and clinical criteria are neither sensitive enough, nor specific enough, to assure a diagnosis. For initial cases of ON, clinicians should perform contrast enhanced MRI of the brain and orbits, cerebral spinal fluid analysis, and biological analyses to exclude secondary infectious or inflammatory ON. Systematic screening for MOG-IgG and AQP4-IgG IgG is recommended in children but is still a matter of debate in adults. Early recognition of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, MOG-IgG-associated disorder, and chronic relapsing idiopathic optic neuritis is required, as these diagnoses require therapies for relapse prevention that are different from those used to treat multiple sclerosis.

Collateral damage: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care of a patient with tuberculous neuroretinitis in Lagos, Nigeria

Tuberculous neuroretinis, a relatively rare manifestation of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, is characterized by optic disc edema, peripapillary and macula swelling, with hard exudates forming a partial or complete 'macular star' While the disease may present a diagnostic challenge for Ophthalmologists, prognosis is usually good, with proper management. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented a healthcare delivery dilemma in many parts of the world, with poor accessibility to, and under-utilization of, important healthcare services by non-COVID-19-related cases. Herein is a report of a case of tuberculous neuroretinitis in Lagos, Nigeria, whose care was negatively impacted by the ongoing pandemic through the combined factors of the interruption of clinical services during the lockdown, patient avoidance of healthcare facilities and the absence of robust telehealth services. These all culminated in the delayed institution of therapy which may be responsible for the poor visual outcome of no-light-perception.

Acute Management of Optic Neuritis: An Evolving Paradigm

The current management of acute optic neuritis (ON) is focused on expediting visual recovery through the use of high-dose intravenous corticosteroids. The recent identification of specific autoantibodies associated with central nervous system inflammatory disorders has provided novel insights into immune targets and mechanisms that impact the prognosis, treatment, and recurrence of ON. Therefore, neurologists and ophthalmologists need to be aware of clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings that may provide important clues to the etiology of ON and the potential need for aggressive management. Moving forward, rapid and accurate diagnosis of inflammatory ON will likely be critical for implementing clinical care that optimizes short-term and long-term therapeutic outcomes.

Prevalence of Positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test in Uveitis and its Clinical Implications in a Country Nonendemic for Tuberculosis

PURPOSE

To report on the prevalence and clinical implications of positive QuantiFERON-Gold (QFT-G) test results in the diagnostic evaluation of a large cohort of consecutive patients with uveitis in the Netherlands.

DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This study included 710 consecutive patients who all underwent evaluation for uveitis including QFT-G testing. The ocular features, comorbidity, and abnormalities in diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests were registered for QFT-G-positive patients with uveitis.

RESULTS

Of all patients, 13% (92/710) were positive for QFT-G. Previously treated tuberculosis (TB) was documented in 2 patients. Of all 92 QFT-G-positive patients, culture-proven active TB was observed in 1 case. The proportion of patients with uveitis of unknown etiology was higher in QFT-G-positive than in the QFT-G-negative patients (54/92, 59% vs 238/618, 39%; P = .0004). The uveitis features of QFT-G-positive patients were mainly nonspecific. Of all QFT-G-positive patients with uveitis, 17 patients had chest imaging changes suggesting either TB or sarcoidosis. Twenty-nine QFT-G-positive patients with otherwise unexplained uveitis completed antituberculous therapy (29/710; 4% of all included patients) with beneficial effect in most cases.

CONCLUSION

The QFT-G tested positive in 13% of patients with uveitis in the Netherlands, whereas only sporadic patients had a documented previous or active TB infection. The proportion of patients with unexplained uveitis was higher in QFT-G-positive patients. Though the association between uveitis and a positive QFT-G test might be coincidental, the majority of treated QFT-G-positive patients with otherwise unexplained severe uveitis cause had a beneficial response to antituberculous therapy.

Infectious Optic Neuropathies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews common infectious optic neuropathies, focusing on the more common and globally important entities.

RECENT FINDINGS

Novel infections continue to emerge and drift geographically over time; not infrequently, these have important neurologic or ocular features. Malarial retinal findings comprise a relatively specific set of findings and serve as an invaluable aid in the diagnosis of cerebral malaria. Therapy continues to evolve and is best formulated in concert with an infectious disease expert.

SUMMARY

Infectious optic neuropathies are less common than inflammatory or ischemic optic neuropathies; may present with varied, overlapping, and nonspecific clinical appearances; and comprise an important differential consideration demanding specific therapy.

Optic Neuritis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article discusses the clinical presentation, evaluation, and management of the patient with optic neuritis. Initial emphasis is placed on clinical history, examination, diagnostic testing, and medical decision making, while subsequent focus is placed on examining specific inflammatory optic neuropathies. Clinical clues, examination findings, neuroimaging, and laboratory testing that differentiate autoimmune, granulomatous, demyelinating, infectious, and paraneoplastic causes of optic neuritis are assessed, and current treatments are evaluated.

RECENT FINDINGS

Advances in technology and immunology have enhanced our understanding of the pathologies driving inflammatory optic nerve injury. Clinicians are now able to interrogate optic nerve structure and function during inflammatory injury, rapidly identify disease-relevant autoimmune targets, and deliver timely therapeutics to improve visual outcomes.

SUMMARY

Optic neuritis is a common clinical manifestation of central nervous system inflammation. Depending on the etiology, visual prognosis and the risk for recurrent injury may vary. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of optic neuritis may be critical for limiting vision loss, future neurologic disability, and organ damage. This article will aid neurologists in formulating a systematic approach to patients with optic neuritis.

Bilateral primary optic neuropathy as the presenting manifestation of tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient

Vision impairment is one of the devastating complications of central nervous system tuberculosis (CNS TB). Optic atrophy is a sequelae of various forms of CNS TB which, ultimately, is responsible for vision impairment. It is usually the secondary optic atrophy which occurs in CNS TB. In this case report, we present the story of an immunocompetent woman presenting as bilateral visual loss. She was found to have primary optic atrophy. Neuroimaging revealed features of chronic meningitis. Polymerase chain reaction test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was positive in cerebrospinal fluid. Although secondary optic atrophy is common in the CNS TB, as a complication of meningitis, primary optic atrophy per se is infrequently reported.

An unusual case of tuberculous optic neuropathy associated with choroiditis

Tuberculous optic neuropathy that includes papillitis, neuroretinitis, and optic nerve tubercle is a rare presentation of ocular tuberculosis. Though contagious spread from choroid following the hematogenous dissemination of the bacilli has been implicated in the optic nerve involvement, unlike neuroretinitis, optic nerve and choroidal involvement are usually considered as two separate clinical entities. We report a case of optic nerve involvement in a 33-year-old male who had concurrent choroidal involvement at present and also in the past. A strong history of contact with patients of pulmonary tuberculosis, positive tuberculin skin test, interferon gamma release assay, and high-resolution computed tomography helped us to clinch the diagnosis. Patients responded to systemic corticosteroid therapy and anti-tuberculosis treatment. Choroidal involvement in a case of inflammatory optic neuropathy should arise suspicion of tuberculous etiology.

Papillitis and neuroretinitis of tuberculous etiology

A 57-year-old man with miliary tuberculosis reported visual loss in his right eye, a month after starting a four-drug antituberculous treatment regimen. On exploration, an inferior segmental optic disc edema was objectived and it was attributed to ischemic aetiology. Ethambutol was withdrawn and 60mg of oral prednisone daily were given with a tapering dosage. One and a half months later, he presented a sudden loss of vision in his left eye. In fundoscopy, a papillary edema accompanied by a foveal neurosensory detachment was observed but with no more accompanying uveitic signs. Treatment was intensified with moxifloxacin and corticosteroids were reduced, showing a resolution of the macular detachment but with optic atrophy. Isolated tuberculous involvement of the optic nerve may possible in the context of miliary tuberculosis. In this case, the adopted therapeutic approach to the initial papillitis, which was interpreted as ischemic, could favour the appearance of a neuroretinitis in the fellow eye.

Ocular tuberculosis in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia - A case series

INTRODUCTION

Ocular tuberculosis (TB) encompasses a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations affecting different structures of the eye. It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a great ancient organism that induces various types of diseases and unfavorable outcomes if unrecognized and not well treated.

PURPOSE

To report the clinical profile of 34 ocular TB cases observed during 6 years period in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM).

METHOD

A retrospective review of medical records from 34 patients diagnosed with ocular TB in HUSM from January 2011 until December 2016.

RESULTS

The mean age was 43 ± 14.6 years old. Both male and female affected in about 1:1 ratio. The majority of subjects were local Malays (91.2%). Risk factors included previous contact with pulmonary TB patients (38.2%), and patients with underlying diabetes mellitus (26.5%). Most patients showed normal chest radiography (79.4%). However they had positive Mantoux test (94.1%) and raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) value (58.8%). Uveitis was the most common ocular manifestation of ocular TB (70.6%) while the rare ocular manifestations included optic perineuritis and optic neuritis, orbital apex syndrome, orbital cellulitis, sclerokeratitis, corneal ulcer and conjunctival abscess. All patients responded well to anti-TB treatment, but visual outcome was variable.

CONCLUSIONS

This review shows the diverse entity of ocular TB spectrum in an endemic area. Good clinical response to anti-tuberculous therapy supported the presumed diagnosis of ocular TB in majority of the cases.

Anti-tubercular therapy for intraocular tuberculosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Intraocular tuberculosis remains a diagnostic and management conundrum for both ophthalmologists and pulmonologists. We analyze the efficacy and safety of anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) in patients with intraocular tuberculosis and factors associated with favorable outcome. Twenty-eight studies are included in this review, with a total of 1,917 patients. Nonrecurrence of inflammation was observed in pooled estimate of 84% of ATT-treated patients (95% CI 79-89). There was minimal difference in the outcome between patients treated with ATT alone (85% successful outcome; 95% CI 25-100) and those with concomitant systemic corticosteroid (82%; 95% CI 73-90). The use of ATT may be of benefit to patients with suspected intraocular tuberculosis; however, this conclusion is limited by the lack of control group analysis and standardized recruitment and treatment protocols. We propose further prospective studies to better establish the efficacy of ATT and ascertain the factors associated with favorable treatment outcomes.

Infectious optic neuropathies: a clinical update

Different forms of optic neuropathy causing visual impairment of varying severity have been reported in association with a wide variety of infectious agents. Proper clinical diagnosis of any of these infectious conditions is based on epidemiological data, history, systemic symptoms and signs, and the pattern of ocular findings. Diagnosis is confirmed by serologic testing and polymerase chain reaction in selected cases. Treatment of infectious optic neuropathies involves the use of specific anti-infectious drugs and corticosteroids to suppress the associated inflammatory reaction. The visual prognosis is generally good, but persistent severe vision loss with optic atrophy can occur. This review presents optic neuropathies caused by specific viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal diseases.

Isolated Optic Disc Tuberculosis

We present a healthy male subject who developed progressive visual loss in the left eye initially diagnosed as optic neuritis. Upon suspicion of infectious etiology, testing was positive for tuberculosis. There were no signs or symptoms of active systemic tuberculosis infection. The patient responded swiftly to antimycobacterial therapy with return of vision and resolution of disc swelling. Positive purified protein derivative skin test, negative chest radiograph, negative systemic workup, negative workup for other causes of unilateral optic neuritis and quick response to mycobacterial therapy reaffirm the entity of isolated optic disc tuberculosis similar to isolated choroidal tuberculosis without systemic manifestation.

Clinical manifestations of patients with intraocular inflammation and positive QuantiFERON-TB gold in-tube test in a country nonendemic for tuberculosis

PURPOSE

To evaluate clinical manifestations of patients with uveitis and scleritis of unknown origin and positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (quantiferon) in a country not endemic for tuberculosis.

DESIGN

Multicenter retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

Retrospective review of the clinical, laboratory, and imaging data of 77 patients. Main outcome measures consisted of ocular and systemic features as well as results of laboratory examinations.

RESULTS

Out of all, 60 of 71 (85%) were living for at least 6 months in tuberculosis-endemic regions. Location of uveitis was variable; posterior uveitis (29/77; 38%) was the most frequent. Two clinical entities were commonly noted: retinal occlusive vasculitis (21/77; 27%) and serpiginoid choroiditis (11/77; 14%). Antituberculosis treatment was completed in 32 patients; 29 of them (91%) achieved complete remission. Mean quantiferon level was 7.5 U/mL; 71% had values above 2 U/mL and 41% above 10 U/mL. We observed no associations between quantiferon levels and clinical and/or imaging features. Previous tuberculosis infection was diagnosed in 5 of 77 patients (6.5%), while hilar/mediastinal lymphadenopathy was found in 25 of 76 patients (33%). Of these, 12 were consistent with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, 9 were typical for (prior) tuberculosis, and 4 were compatible with both diagnoses.

CONCLUSIONS

Ocular features of patients with idiopathic uveitis and positive quantiferon were diverse, but retinal occlusive vasculitis and serpiginoid choroiditis were common. The quantiferon levels were usually highly elevated and 33% of patients exhibited lymphadenopathy, suggesting frequently the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Ocular inflammation reacted favorably to antituberculosis treatment, although only a small minority had documented (prior) tuberculosis.

Trends in patterns of intermediate uveitis in a tertiary institution in Singapore

Purpose

The study aims to describe the characteristics and etiologic causes of intermediate uveitis (IU) patients seen by a tertiary eye center in Singapore over 8 years.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of the clinical records of consecutive new cases of IU that presented to the uveitis subspecialty clinic from 2004–2011 at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Data collected included demographics, clinical and laboratory findings. Diagnoses were based on standardized clinical history, ophthalmological examination and investigations.

Results

There were 66 new cases of IU, comprising 5.7% of 1168 new uveitis patients. The median age of diagnosis was 40 years (mean 39.4±15.9), with largest subgroup of the patients in the age group of 41–60 years (36.4%). The majority was Chinese (57.6%), followed by Asian Indians (18.2%) and Malays (16.7%). The ethnicity distribution was dissimilar to our ethnic distribution in Singapore (p<0.001) with an increased incidence of IU in the Asian Indian population. Most were idiopathic (59.1%) in etiology, followed by tuberculosis (TB) (15.2%). Ocular complications developed in 21 patients (31.8%), with cystoid macular edema (CME) being the commonest (28.8%). Severe vitritis occurred in 9.1% of patients, and was significantly associated with TB-associated IU (p<0.001). There was a downward trend for the incidence of the proportion of IU patients over the total uveitis patients (p = 0.021), with Spearman’s rho of −0.786.

Conclusions

Despite the downward trend, TB-associated IU was still of higher prevalence compared to less endemic areas, emphasizing the need for increased TB surveillance. A high index of suspicion for TB-associated IU is required in patients with severe vitritis. Comparisons with other countries revealed disparities in the IU etiologies, indicating possible geographical differences. Prevalence of known immune-mediated etiologies of IU is less compared to the western population. Our study also suggests a probable predisposition of the Singapore local Indian population for IU.