title: Duration of anti-tubercular therapy in uveitis associated with latent tuberculosis: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of the duration of anti-tubercular treatment (ATT) on the recurrence of uveitis associated with latent tuberculosis (TB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of all consecutive uveitis patients seen at a single, tertiary institution over 9 years with uveitis consistent with TB, positive tuberculin skin test with other causes ruled out, and a minimum of 6 months follow-up after completion of treatment. Clinical characteristics, treatment type, treatment duration and clinical response were recorded. Our main outcome measure was the effect of ATT duration on the recurrence of inflammation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 182 eligible patients, 46 received ATT of ≥ 6 month's duration; 18 patients defaulted and received < 6 months treatment. The patients' mean age was 45.3 ± 13.2 years and most were female (n=118, 57.6%) and of Chinese race (n=104, 50.7%). Patients who completed > 9 months ATT were less likely to develop recurrence compared with those not treated with ATT (OR 0.09; 95% CI 0.01 to 0.76; p=0.027), while adjusting for potential confounders such as patient demographics, anatomical location of uveitis and corticosteroid therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with uveitis and latent TB treated with ATT of > 9 months duration had an 11-fold reduction in the likelihood of recurrence.
authors: Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
authors: Marcus
authors: M
authors: Ang
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Hedayatfar
authors: Wanling
authors: W
authors: Wong
authors: Soon-Phaik
authors: SP
authors: Chee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014392:Tuberculosis, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids