title: Incidence of toxic optic neuropathy with low-dose ethambutol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the incidence of ethambutol (EMB) induced optic neuropathy prescribed at a relatively low dose of ≤ 15 mg/kg/day for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) or Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed with TB or MAC lung disease received multidrug regimens including EMB at a single institution from August 2003 to July 2009. Visual monitoring was performed at baseline and at regular follow-up. The incidence of EMB-induced visual disturbances was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 415 patients included in the study, three (0.7%) developed toxic optic neuropathy over the 6-year period. Of the 289 patients prescribed a dose of ≤ 15 mg/kg/day EMB, only one (0.3%) developed toxic optic neuropathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of EMB-induced optic neuropathy among Koreans is estimated to be 0.7%, and can be reduced with lower doses of EMB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: C-T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D004977:Ethambutol