Presumed ocular and central nervous system tuberculosis in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

PURPOSE: To elucidate a case of tuberculous choroiditis in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

METHODS

We treated a 35-year-old woman who had AIDS with neurologic involvement caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. She developed a yellow-white chorioretinal infiltrate with indistinct borders and mild vitreitis in the right eye, probably caused by this pathogen.

RESULTS

The patient's visual acuity improved in the right eye with healing of the ocular lesion and her neurologic condition improved after specific therapy with isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol.

CONCLUSION

Tuberculosis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of posterior uveitis and choroiditis in AIDS patients.