title: Intravitreal methotrexate in the management of presumed tuberculous serpiginous-like choroiditis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on the use of intravitreal methotrexate (IVT MTX) as part of treatment of presumed tuberculous serpiginous-like choroiditis progressing despite the use of tuberculostatics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series of patients suffering from serpiginous-like choroiditis with positive tuberculin skin test who received IVT injections of MTX as part of treatment. Ocular disease was active despite the use of systemic tuberculostatic (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol), and choroidal lesions showed signs of progression. A single injection of IVT MTX (400 μg/0.1 mL) was administered in the eye with macular-threatening features. Change in visual acuity, appearance of the lesion, and staining patterns on angiography were among the main outcome measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three eyes from two patients were included. Both cases presented bilateral involvement with mild vitritis. In all three eyes, choroidal lesions healed within the first month after an IVT MTX injection with visual acuity improvement in two. No adverse reaction was related to the medication or to the procedure. Patients were followed for a mean of 13.5 months after being injected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of IVT MTX seems effective in the management of the inflammatory component of tuberculous serpiginous-like choroiditis, whereas systemic tuberculostatics are aimed at controlling the infectious one.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Retina and Inflammation, MIOS, Lausanne, Switzerland; †School of Medicine, Austral University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; ‡Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; and §Department of Ophthalmology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Julian
authors.forename: Beate-J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Langner-Wegscheider
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Marc D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: De Smet
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002833:Choroiditis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014392:Tuberculosis, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008727:Methotrexate