title: Tubercular retinal vasculitis.
abstract: Intraocular tuberculosis (TB) infection can have different clinical manifestations including retinal vasculitis. It more frequently involves the veins and is associated with retina haemorrhages and neovascularisation. The diagnosis may be difficult and presumptive being based on clinical findings and evidence of systemic TB infection. The authors present a case of a 61-year-old woman with blurred vision and floaters in her left eye for 6 years, associated with recurrent vitreous haemorrahages. A temporal branch retinal vein occlusion was presumed. Four years later her right eye was also involved. Her best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/50 in both eyes. Fundoscopic examination showed bilateral venous occlusion with vascular staining on fluorescein angiography suggestive of vasculitis secondary to Eales Disease (ED). The interferon gamma release assay (IGRA-QuantiFERON-TB Gold) was positive and antituberculosis treatment (ATT) was started. Her final BCVA was 20/20 bilaterally, without recurrences over a follow-up of 15 months. The use of ATT is likely to reduce recurrent vitreous haemorrhages and eliminate future recurrences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital de Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal. msarapatricio@gmail.com
authors.forename: Maria Sara
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Patricio
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Portelinha
authors.forename: Maria Picoto
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Passarinho
authors.forename: Marta Esteves
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Guedes
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D031300:Retinal Vasculitis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy