Yellow Subretinal Lesions following Initiation of Antituberculosis Therapy in A Tubercular Choroidal Granuloma: A Sign of Paradoxical Worsening?

PURPOSE: To describe the presentation and management of atypical subretinal lesions following initiation of antitubercular therapy for a tubercular choroidal granuloma.

CASE REPORT: An 18-year-old female was diagnosed with choroidal granuloma and shallow exudative retinal detachment in the left eye. Biopsy from a cervical lymph node was positive for tuberculosis. She was treated with antitubercular therapy (ATT) and oral steroids. After one week of therapy exudative detachment increased markedly and discrete yellowish-white subretinal lesions appeared first in the inferior periphery, then temporally and later involved the macula leading to a drop in visual acuity. A diagnosis of paradoxical worsening was considered and she was managed with a higher dose of oral corticosteroids, intravitreal methotrexate and intravitreal ranibizumab. The granuloma healed and the subretinal lesions as well as exudative detachment gradually resolved with improvement in visual acuity.

CONCLUSION

Subretinal yellow-white lesions may develop as a paradoxical response to ATT.