title: Anterior chamber paracentesis to improve diagnosis and treatment of infectious uveitis in South Africa.
abstract: Infectious uveitis is a significant cause of blindness in South Africa, especially among HIV-infected individuals. The visual outcome of uveitis depends on early clinical and laboratory diagnosis to guide therapeutic intervention. Analyses of aqueous humor, obtained by anterior chamber paracentesis, directs the differential diagnosis in infectious uveitis. However, although safe and potentially cost-effective, diagnostic anterior chamber paracentesis is not common practice in ophthalmic care across Africa. We seek to draw attention to this important procedure that could improve the diagnosis and prognosis of infectious uveitis.
authors.affiliation: Anova Health Institute 21 Peace Street 0850 Tzaneen South Africa.. e.schaftenaar@oogziekenhuis.nl.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schaftenaar
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lecuona
authors.forename: Seerp
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baarsma
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meenken
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verjans
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: Remco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000382:microbiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D019152:Paracentesis; D013019:South Africa; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*