Rifabutin corneal deposits in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: in vivo confocal microscopy investigation.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the real localization of rifabutin-related corneal deposits in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection by in vivo HRT II confocal microscopy with related clinicopathologic implications.


METHODS
Observational case report. After Siena University Institutional Review Board approval in May 2008 and specific informed consent, a 54-year-old patient with HIV infection under rifabutin treatment for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related Mycobacterium avium complex prevention who developed diffuse corneal deposits was examined at the Department of Ophthalmology of Siena University. He underwent a complete clinical eye examination, biomicroscopy, and digital slit lamp photographs, endothelial specular microscopy, ultrasound pachymetry, and confocal microscopy by HRT II system.


RESULTS
Confocal scans revealed the presence of deep stromal and pre descemetic hyperreflective polymorphous deposits. In vivo confocal examination excluded the presence of rifabutin-related deposits at endothelial level.


CONCLUSIONS
Confocal microscopy enables establishment of the real localization of rifabutin deposits at deep stromal level, providing a better qualitative analysis of all corneal layers compared to biomicroscopic examination, with clinical and physiopathologic implications.
Mazzotta
Cosimo
C
Department of Ophthalmology and Neurosurgery, Santa Maria delle Scotte Hospital, Siena University, Italy. cgmazzotta@libero.it
Traversi
Claudio
C
Nuti
Elisabetta
E
Sparano
Maria Caterina
MC
Caporossi
Aldo
A
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D017828:Rifabutin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D017828:Rifabutin