Newer trends in tubercular uveitis: a case series with systemic correlation

Uveitis in the Pediatric Population and Therapeutic Management: A Current Literature Review

Uveitis is an inflammatory disease that can lead to severe complications, including vision loss. The pediatric population is particularly at risk of developing complications, as uveitis in this age group often has idiopathic origins or is associated with systemic diseases that follow a severe course. This, coupled with unfavorable treatment outcomes, continues to be a challenge in pediatric ophthalmology. The cornerstone of uveitis treatment involves a therapeutic strategy that depends on the etiology, severity, and localization of the inflammation, as well as the patient's response to treatment and the presence of ocular complications. Patients who do not receive timely treatment face a significantly increased risk of experiencing a severe disease course. Understanding potential therapeutic options and their side effects is crucial in managing children with uveitis. Equally important is the continuous monitoring of the child's condition throughout the treatment process, due to the chronic and recurrent nature of uveitis in this demographic. The authors conducted a review of the current literature from 2018 to 2023 on the management and introduction of new therapeutic approaches for children with uveitis.

Clinical Features and Predictors of Treatment Outcome in Patients with Ocular Tuberculosis from the Netherlands and Indonesia: The OculaR TB in Low versus High Endemic Countries (ORTEC) Study

PURPOSE

To describe and compare clinical features, treatment approaches, and treatment outcomes of ocular tuberculosis (OTB) patients in the Netherlands, a low tuberculosis (TB)-endemic country, and Indonesia, a high TB-endemic country. We also aimed to identify predictors of treatment outcomes.

METHODS

A medical chart review of 339 OTB patients (n = 93 from the Netherlands and n = 246 from Indonesia) was performed. The primary outcome was response to treatment, whether with or without anti-tubercular treatment, after six months of treatment initiation (good versus poor responders).

RESULTS

Indonesian OTB patients displayed a higher prevalence of chest radiograph findings indicative of TB infection (p < 0.001) and concurrent active systemic TB (p = 0.011). Indonesian cohort exhibited a more acute and severe disease profile, including uveitis duration ≤ 3 months (p < 0.001), blindness (p < 0.001), anterior chamber (AC) cells ≥ 2+ (p < 0.001), and posterior synechiae (p < 0.001). Overall proportions of good responders to treatment were 67.6% in the Netherlands and 71.5% in Indonesia. Presence of AC cell ≥ 2+ (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.12, 95% CI: 1.09-4.14), choroidal lesions other than serpiginous-like choroiditis (SLC) or tuberculoma (aOR: 4.47, 95% CI: 1.18-16.90), and retinal vasculitis (aOR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.10-4.90) at baseline were predictors for poor response to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite a more severe initial clinical presentation in the Indonesian cohort, the overall treatment outcomes of OTB was comparable in both cohorts. Three baseline clinical features were identified as predictors of treatment outcomes.

An excursion into ocular tuberculosis

Till today, ocular tuberculosis (OTB) presents clinicians with significant challenges in diagnosis and management. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to a heterogeneous disease like OTB, and clinicians often have to consider a multitude of factors when initiating treatment, such as tuberculosis endemicity, the probability of a true OTB diagnosis in the setting of nonspecific ocular features, the effective duration of treatment, and the likelihood of vision-threatening complications in the patient. It is no wonder that treatment protocols are widely varied globally. There have been recent developments in the standardization of nomenclature and therapeutic strategies for OTB, as established by the Collaborative OTB Study Working Group. In this review, we referred to findings in retrospective studies, international clinical guidelines, and OTB consortiums, to explore the clinical presentations, investigations, and updated management principles for patients with presumed tubercular uveitis.

Changing Trends in Uveitis in the United Kingdom: 5000 Consecutive Referrals to a Tertiary Referral Centre

PURPOSE

To demonstrate changes in the demography and diagnosis of uveitis in a specialist clinic in the United Kingdom.

METHODS

Retrieval of data including all new referrals to Manchester Uveitis Clinic from 1991 to 2020. The incidence and proportions of diagnoses between 4 quartiles was compared.

RESULTS

5000 patients with uveitis were seen. Referral rates trebled over time. Highly significant increases in referrals were seen for multiple evanescent white dot syndrome-spectrum disorders, syphilis and tuberculosis; increases were also seen for herpetic retinitis, vitreoretinal lymphoma and sarcoidosis. Highly significant decreases were seen for Fuchs' uveitis, Behçet's uveitis and ocular toxoplasmosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Subspecialisation and de-skilling has changed referral patterns to specialist clinics; changes cannot be entirely attributed to disease incidences, which also vary between countries. International data are non-comparable. There are clear changes in referral patterns and disease incidence in this population, influenced by evolving diagnosis. Local data should steer care planning.