Bilateral acute iris transillumination following systemic moxifloxacin for respiratory illness: report of two cases and review of the literature

Increased risk of pigmentary degeneration of the iris and pigmentary glaucoma with fluoroquinolone antibiotics

PURPOSE

Fluoroquinolones are popular antibiotics used for a myriad of conditions including ocular procedures. Despite numerous case reports of acute pigmentary degeneration of the iris with fluoroquinolone use, a pharmacoepidemiological study has not been performed to examine and quantify this risk.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study with a case-control analysis.

PARTICIPANTS

A cohort of 1,231,881 new users of oral or topical moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, and azithromycin were followed to first diagnosis of pigmentary degeneration of the iris or pigmentary glaucoma. Four controls were selected for each case using density sampling, matching on age and calendar time.

METHODS

Users of oral or topical moxifloxacin were compared to levofloxacin and azithromycin, a negative control drug from a separate class.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

First incidence of pigmentary degeneration of the iris or pigmentary glaucoma.

RESULTS

The cohort was comprised of 1,231,881 new users of topical or oral levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, or azithromycin. 542 cases of pigmentary degeneration of the iris and 460 cases of pigmentary glaucoma were identified. The incidence of iris pigmentary degeneration or pigmentary glaucoma for topical moxifloxacin was 10.2/1000 person years compared to 2.6/1000 person years for topical azithromycin. Current topical moxifloxacin users had the highest adjusted IRR for pigmentary degeneration of the iris (IRR = 6.81, [95%CI:2.00-23.18]) and pigmentary glaucoma (IRR = 4.07 [95%CI:1.42-11.62]) respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The study findings suggest that patients using topical moxifloxacin may have increased risk of developing pigmentary degeneration of the iris and pigmentary glaucoma although the absolute increase was low. Future studies are needed to confirm this association.

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) for IOP Control in a Patient with Bilateral Acute Iris Transillumination (BAIT)

INTRODUCTION

Bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) is a clinical condition characterized by acute bilateral loss of iris pigment epithelium and iris transillumination. Because of the similar presentation, it is commonly confused with anterior uveitis, making it an important differential diagnosis for this condition.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We report the case of a 60-year-old male patient who presented all the characteristics of BAIT after undergoing systemic treatment with moxifloxacin and that had the intraocular pressure (IOP) successfully controlled with selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT).

CONCLUSION

SLT might be an effective therapeutic option and should be considered for the control of IOP in BAIT.

Bilateral Acute Iris Transillumination After Systemic Moxifloxacin Treatment

This case report discusses a diagnosis of bilateral acute iris transillumination secondary to systemic antibiotics in a patient who presented with persistent bilateral photophobia.

Bilateral Acute Iris Transillumination Syndrome Following Oral Moxifloxacin Overdose

We report a case of bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) syndrome caused by an overdose of oral moxifloxacin in a Hispanic female patient with no previous respiratory viral infection. A 56-year-old Hispanic female with no history of ocular illness was referred to our glaucoma service to manage her microcystic edema, swelling, and refractory ocular hypertension. Her ocular and systemic symptoms, including progressively worsening bilateral ocular pain, severe photophobia, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting, started 14 days after an accidental overdose of oral moxifloxacin. Moxifloxacin had been prescribed to treat a complicated urinary tract infection. A slit-lamp examination revealed bilateral microcystic corneal edema and transillumination in the right temporal iris, both consistent with a diagnosis of BAIT syndrome. The existing literature on BAIT syndrome is scarce, and its etiology remains unclear. This case provides clinical evidence supporting moxifloxacin toxicity as a possible cause of BAIT syndrome. We emphasize the importance of conducting extensive research to define the mechanisms involved in moxifloxacin-induced BAIT syndrome and to search for other potential etiologies of this condition.

Bilateral Acute Iris Transillumination Associated with Moxifloxacin Antibiotic Use

PURPOSE

To describe the clinical and demographic characteristics and associated factors leading to bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) syndrome.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients with BAIT syndrome was performed.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients with a diagnosis of BAIT were identified. The median age at presentation was 53 years; 80% of the patients were female. Twenty-six patients (74%) had recent histories of systemic antibiotic treatment. Of those with such a history, 24 patients (92%) had been receiving moxifloxacin. Two patients within our cohort were prescribed moxifloxacin prophylactically prior to a systemic surgical procedure and had no evidence of systemic illness or recent viral illness.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support the notion that moxifloxacin might be associated with the onset of BAIT syndrome. Notably, within our cohort, two patients received moxifloxacin as surgical prophylaxis and subsequently developed BAIT syndrome. This could suggest a potential association between moxifloxacin and the onset of BAIT, though further studies are needed to confirm this finding.

Bilateral Acute Depigmentation of Iris (BADI) and Bilateral Acute Iris Transillumination (BAIT)Following Acute COVID-19 Infection

PURPOSE

To report the presenting features and outcomes in patients who developed bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) or bilateral acute depigmentation of iris (BADI) following acute COVID-19 infection.

METHODS

Thirty two eyes of 16 patients were reviewed retrospectively. The severity of COVID-19 infection, use of antibiotics, time of onset of ocular symptoms; ocular signs, the course and surgical procedures were recorded.

RESULTS

24 eyes of 12 BAIT and eight eyes of four consecutive BADI patients were included. The mean time between infection and onset of ocular symptoms was 2.5±1.1 weeks. Nine patients were treated with oral moxifloxacin for COVID-19 prior to presentation. Trabeculectomy was performed in 7 eyes (21.8%) of 5 BAIT patients; in the postoperative follow-up, IOP was controlled without medication in 6 eyes, with medication in 1 eye.

CONCLUSION

BADI and BAIT can also develop after COVID-19 infection. A significant proportion of BAIT patients may require glaucoma surgery.

Bilateral acute Iris transillumination after COVID-19 pneumonia

PURPOSE

To report the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of a case of bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) developed after COVID-19 pneumonia.

METHOD

Case report.

CASE

A 66-year-old male patient with COVID-19 pneumonia received systemic treatments of favipiravir, prednisolone, moxifloxacin and piperacillin-tazobactam during hospitalization. The patient applied to our clinic with the complaint of blurred vision 20 days after the diagnosis of COVID-19. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.3 in the right eye and 0.5 in the left eye. In the anterior segment examination; ciliary injection, intense pigment dispersion in the anterior chamber, pigment deposits on the lens and iris, 2-3 + cells in the anterior chamber, posterior synechia, and 360 degrees diffuse iris transillumination were observed in both eyes. The pupillary response to light was weak. Bilateral fundus examination were normal. In the anterior chamber sample; HSV, VZV, CMV and Toxoplasma PCR were negative. Bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) diagnosed in the patient and topical 0.1% dexamethasone and topical 1% cyclopentolate were started. In the follow-up, visual acuity increased 1.0 in both eyes, there were no cells in the anterior chamber, and the pigment dispersion was still continuing despite a decrease.

CONCLUSION

BAIT, which can usually be seen after upper respiratory tract infections, can also be seen after covid 19 pneumonia and be kept in mind as a possible eye involvement in patients with COVID-19 infection.

Severe sequelae in bilateral acute iris transillumination syndrome secondary to the use of oral moxifloxacin: a case report

Background

Moxifloxacin is a fourth-generation fluoroquinolone used as a second-line treatment for multiple bacterial infections. Uveitis has been described as an adverse effect related to this medication. Although several case reports have been published describing uveitis and bilateral acute iris transillumination syndrome related to moxifloxacin, we present a unique case of a patient with severe sequelae associated with bilateral acute iris transillumination syndrome secondary to the use of oral moxifloxacin.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old Colombian hispanic female presented bilateral conjunctival hyperemia, decreased visual acuity, blurred vision, photophobia, and ocular pain after 15 days of treatment with systemic moxifloxacin for an upper tract respiratory infection. The patient presented unilateral anterior chamber pigment dispersion, mydriatic and nonreactive pupils, extensive iris transillumination defects, and secondary glaucoma. Blood and aqueous humor tests were negative for infectious and autoimmune diseases. Moxifloxacin-induced bilateral acute iris transillumination syndrome was diagnosed. Permanent sequelae such as ocular pain, photophobia, and focus difficulty secondary to severe bilateral iridian atrophy and inability of synkinetic reflex were left. Additionally, glaucoma was diagnosed, and Ahmed valve implantation was required.

Conclusions

We should be aware of the possible association between moxifloxacin and bilateral acute iris transillumination syndrome. A detailed anamnesis, adequate examination, and laboratory tests are necessary to reach an early diagnosis and treatment to avoid unnecessary therapies. Larger studies should be carried out to understand the pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and sequelae of the disease.

The peripheral and core regions of virus-host network of COVID-19

Two thousand nineteen novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the pathogen of COVID-19, has caused a catastrophic pandemic, which has a profound and widespread impact on human lives and social economy globally. However, the molecular perturbations induced by the SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unknown. In this paper, from the perspective of omnigenic, we analyze the properties of the neighborhood perturbed by SARS-CoV-2 in the human interactome and disclose the peripheral and core regions of virus-host network (VHN). We find that the virus-host proteins (VHPs) form a significantly connected VHN, among which highly perturbed proteins aggregate into an observable core region. The non-core region of VHN forms a large scale but relatively low perturbed periphery. We further validate that the periphery is non-negligible and conducive to identifying comorbidities and detecting drug repurposing candidates for COVID-19. We particularly put forward a flower model for COVID-19, SARS and H1N1 based on their peripheral regions, and the flower model shows more correlations between COVID-19 and other two similar diseases in common functional pathways and candidate drugs. Overall, our periphery-core pattern can not only offer insights into interconnectivity of SARS-CoV-2 VHPs but also facilitate the research on therapeutic drugs.

Toxic Anterior Segment Syndrome with Intracameral Moxifloxacin: Case Report and Review of the Literature

A case of severe anterior segment toxicity secondary to high-volume, undiluted intracameral moxifloxacin for endophthalmitis prophylaxis is reported. We examine the other reported cases of toxicity after intracameral moxifloxacin, as well as iris depigmentation and transillumination syndromes after oral and topical fluoroquinolone exposure. Additionally, we review the literature on safety, efficacy, and appropriate dosing of intracameral antibiotics with a focus on moxifloxacin.

Surgical Management of Glaucoma Secondary to Bilateral Acute Iris Transillumination: A Role for Gonioscopy-assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy

Purpose

We report a case of bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) in a young woman associated with ocular hypertension which eventually progressed to glaucoma that was treated with gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculectomy (GATT).

Case Report

A 37-year-old otherwise healthy female presented with intermittently red and inflamed eyes and blurred vision. She was treated with oral moxifloxacin months prior to presentation. Iris transillumination defects, a pigmented anterior chamber reaction, the absence of keratic precipitates, and a history of upper respiratory infection treated with an oral fluoroquinolone prompted the diagnosis of BAIT. Intraocular pressure (IOP) remained uncontrolled on multiple glaucoma medications. Following the development of new visual field defects, indicating progression to glaucoma, GATT with cataract extraction was performed.

Conclusion

Although surgical intervention is rare with BAIT, our case demonstrates that GATT may be used effectively in those patients needing better IOP control before considering incisional glaucoma surgery.

Pharmacologically induced uveitis

Treatments of numerous systemic and local diseases of different etiologies may be accompanied by an unwanted side effect in the form of uveitis. We inform readers about medications that have the potential to cause uveitis and analyze the strength of association of these medications with uveitis. Subsequently, cessation of medication or appropriate treatment can be individualized for each patient for the purpose of preventing further damage to tissue structure and function. Being aware of these associations, physicians may readily identify medications that may cause uveitis and avoid expensive and unnecessary clinical and laboratory testing.

Bilateral acute anterior uveitis and iris atrophy caused by moxifloxacin

A 56-year-old paramedic was admitted to hospital and treated for severe pneumonia. Shortly after initiating antibiotic treatment (including moxifloxacin), he developed bilaterally painful eyes and was diagnosed with bilateral acute anterior uveitis (AAU). Three years later, he was referred to the ophthalmology clinic with bilateral iris transillumination suggesting iris atrophy and limited pupillary dilation, indicating iris sphincter muscle paralysis. AAU typically presents unilaterally. An onset of bilateral AAU is unusual and warrants investigation for underlying systemic cause. The fluoroquinolone moxifloxacin has been reported in a limited number of cases as a causative agent of bilateral AAU and iris atrophy. This case provides additional supporting evidence that moxifloxacin may cause degradation of collagen and iris muscle in the eye, as well as elsewhere in the body, such as in blood vessels. Additionally, we present novel anterior segment ocular imaging (using optical coherence tomography) demonstrating the ability to detect iris atrophy using non-invasive imaging.

Bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) syndrome: literature review

The authors conducted a literature review about bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) syndrome, a new and relatively unknown syndrome that should be described and made known to the greatest number to avoid potential diagnostic and therapeutic errors. The first cases date back only to 2004 and a total of 79 cases have been published to date, mainly in Europe and especially in Turkey and Belgium. It mainly affects young women between the ages of 30 and 50, and symptoms are often preceded by an upper airway infection. There is also a majority of cases where the onset of the syndrome follows oral intake of moxyfloxacin. The clinical signs are dominated by strong photophobia, secondary to a spectacular transillumination of the iris. Other classical symptoms are conjunctival infection, eye pain, blurred vision, temporary ocular hypertonia, fixed mid-dilated pupils, and pigment dispersion in the anterior chamber with pigmentary deposits in the trabecular meshwork in gonioscopy, symptoms that may be mistaken for uveitis. After a few weeks or months of evolution, persistent sequelae were pupillary atony and chronic and bilateral transillumination of the iris, leading to significant photophobia and sometimes persistent ocular hypertension. The BAIT syndrome is close to the bilateral acute depigmentation of the iris (BADI) syndrome, which is similar to BAIT but lacks associated transillumination. A few cases of patients with BAIT syndrome on one eye and BADI syndrome on the contralateral eye have been described, which confirms some form of link between the two clinical entities.

Bilateral acute depigmentation of iris: 3-year follow-up of a case

Bilateral acute depigmentation of the iris (BADI) usually affecting young women, is a newly defined clinical diagnosis with bilateral symmetrical pigment loss of iris stroma without iris transillumination defect. Herein, we want to share the results of a 3-year-long follow-up of a 23-year old female patient with BADI. She was admitted to our clinic with a complaint of discoloration of both her brown irises. An ocular evaluation of the patient revealed symmetrical pigment deposition in trabecular meshwork. No iris transillumination defect, pupillary sphincter paralysis, keratic precipitates, and inflammatory reaction in anterior chamber were seen. The depigmented iris stroma became repigmented symmetrically after 3-year follow-up period. Although it is rare, BADI should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the diseases with bilateral iris depigmentation.

Bilateral acute iris transillumination following systemic administration of antibiotics

OBJECTIVES

To describe the demographic characteristics, clinical features, and potential prognostic factors of bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) following oral antibiotic uptake.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 16 consecutive patients who developed BAIT following treatment with systemic antibiotics. Detailed past medical and ocular history was obtained, presenting signs and symptoms were documented and demographic characteristics were analyzed. All patients underwent a complete ocular examination and laboratory investigation. The course of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), anterior chamber activity, and intraocular pressure (IOP) during the follow-up period were recorded and possible correlations with potential prognosticators were investigated.

RESULTS

Fourteen females and two males were included in the present study. The mean age (SD) of the patients was 43 (14) years. All individuals presented conjunctival injection and photophobia and developed bilateral transillumination defects, fixed mid-dilated pupils and pigment dispersion in the anterior chamber. Systemic antibiotics were previously prescribed in all cases (13 patients with moxifloxacin and three patients with clarithromycin) and the mean (SD) interval between onset of symptoms and antibiotic administration was 17 (4) days. Ocular hypertension complicated all eyes and required antiglaucoma medication in 25 eyes. Severe anterior chamber pigment dispersion and higher IOP during the first week after presentation was significantly associated with longer duration of ocular hypertension (OHT) (p = 0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

BAIT represents a rare clinical entity with characteristic features. Although etiopathogenesis of this condition remains unclear, a series of cases that indicate a strong correlation between systemic antibiotic administration and BAIT is herein presented.

Bilateral acute iris transillumination: Case report

Bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) is a recently defined disease characterized with bilateral acute, severe pigment dispersion of iris and pupil sphincter paralysis. The etiopathogenesis of the disease is unknown, but antibiotics such as moxifloxacin, clarithromycin, viral infections, and fumigation therapies were considered as probable etiologic factors. A 33-year-old female was referred to our clinic for acute iridocyclitis refractory to azathioprine, colchicum and corticosteroid treatments. Ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral pigment dispersion, significant iris transillumination, heavy pigment deposition in iridocorneal angle, and elevated intraocular pressure. Upon systemic evaluation she was found to have bacterial urinary tract infection. BAIT is an important cause of pigment dispersion and clinicians must be vigilant for this condition to avoid unnecessary diagnostic tests and treatment.

Oral Fluoroquinolones and the Risk of Uveitis

IMPORTANCE

Fluoroquinolones are the most commonly prescribed antibiotic class in the outpatient setting. Recent reports have implicated an association between oral fluoroquinolones and an increased risk of uveitis.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the hazard of uveitis with oral fluoroquinolone use.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using medical claims data from a large national US insurer (N = 4,387,651). Cohorts from ambulatory care centers across the United States were created including every new user of an oral fluoroquinolone or β-lactam antibiotic prescription with at least 24 months of data prior to the date of the prescription from January 1, 2000, to January 30, 2013. Exclusion criteria consisted of any previous diagnosis of uveitis or a uveitis-associated systemic illness. Participants were censored for a new diagnosis of a uveitis-associated systemic illness, the end of an observation period, use of the other class of antibiotic, or removal from the insurance plan. Data analysis was performed from January 2 through March 15, 2015.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The hazard of a uveitis diagnosis after a fluoroquinolone prescription compared with a β-lactam prescription using multivariate regression with Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

Of the 4,387,651 patients in the database, 843,854 individuals receiving a fluoroquinolone and 3,543,797 patients receiving a β-lactam were included in the analysis. After controlling for age, race, and sex using multivariate analysis, no hazard for developing uveitis at the 30-, 60-, or 90-day observation windows was seen (hazard ratio [HR] range, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.82-1.13; to 1.05; 95% CI, 0.95-1.16; P > .38 for all comparisons). The 365-day observation period showed a small increase in the HR for the fluoroquinolone cohort (1.11; 95% CI, 1.05-1.17; P < .001). Moxifloxacin produced an increased hazard for uveitis at every time point (HR range, 1.47-1.75; 95% CI, 1.27-2.37; P < .001 for all comparisons). Secondary analysis demonstrated a similar hazard at 365 days for a later diagnosis of a uveitis-associated systemic illness after fluoroquinolone use (HR range, 1.46-1.96; 95% CI, 1.42-2.07; P < .001 for all comparisons).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

These data do not support an association between oral fluoroquinolone use and uveitis. Instead, this study shows an association between oral fluoroquinolone use and the risk for uveitis-associated systemic illnesses, which is a possible source of bias that could explain the findings of previous studies.

Drug-induced uveitis

INTRODUCTION

Drug-induced uveitis is a well described but often overlooked and/or misdiagnosed adverse reaction to medication. There are an increasing number of medications that have been related to the onset of intraocular inflammation. Identification of these inciting agents may decisively help the diagnostic algorithm involving new cases of uveitis.

AREAS COVERED

This review intends to be an updated comprehensive, practical guide for practitioners regarding the main drugs that have been associated with uveitis. A classification proposed by Naranjo et al. in 1981 for establishing potential causality is applied examining possible mechanisms of action. A guide for clinicians about the rationale of these observations when dealing with patients with uveitis is provided.

EXPERT OPINION

Several agents with different routes of administration (systemic, topical and/or intraocular) may cause intraocular inflammation. The mechanism behind ocular inflammation is frequently unknown. Clinicians should be aware of the potential drug effect to optimize diagnosis and management of such patients.

Uveitis risk following oral fluoroquinolone therapy: a nested case-control Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the risk of uveitis associated with the use of oral fluoroquinolones.

METHODS

Nested case-control study of all patients who visited an ophthalmologist in British Columbia, Canada, between 2000 and 2007, as captured in the British Columbia Health Linked Database.

RESULTS

A total 3383 incident cases of uveitis and 33,830 corresponding controls were identified. Among patients who had used oral fluoroquinolones within the past 30 days, the adjusted relative risk of uveitis was 3.53 (95% CI, 2.84-4.39). However, the relative risk of uveitis among patients taking oral macrolides and beta-lactams was also significantly elevated.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data do not provide convincing evidence of an association between fluoroquinolones and uveitis, as this study found an association between several classes of antibiotics and uveitis. It is possible that the systemic processes for which these antibiotics are being prescribed are in fact the inciting factors for the uveitis.