Patterns of uveitis in patients with proven systemic (pulmonary and extrapulmonary) tuberculosis.

PURPOSE: To report patterns of uveitis in patients with systemic tuberculosis.

METHODS

Records of patients presenting at uvea clinic of a tertiary eye care centre were evaluated retrospectively, and 47 cases with proven systemic tuberculosis were analyzed for patterns of uveitis. Tuberculosis had been proven with a combination of radio imaging and detection of acid fast bacilli in body fluids. All patients had been reviewed by a specialist as applicable before diagnosing tuberculosis. These patients had undergone a thorough ocular workup. Pattern of uveitis was the primary outcome measure.

RESULTS

Mean age was 35.34 ± 15.56 years. Lung was the commonest systemic focus, seen in nearly 75% of the cases. Anterior uveitis was the most common presentation (48.9%), followed by posterior (25.5%), panuveitis (10.6%) and intermediate uveitis (10.6%). Multifocal serpiginoid choroidopathy (MSC) was seen in only one patient, while granulomatous choroiditis was the commonest type of posterior uveitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Anterior uveitis is the most frequent type of uveitis seen in patients with proven systemic tuberculosis. Rarity of MSC in such patients indicates possibility of etiologies other than tuberculosis in causing MSC.