Two Cases of Retinal Vasculitis in Ocular Tuberculosis Involving Different Parts of the Vascular System

Vol. 1 No. 1 : 2006 (91-93)

Kok Howe Sen Kok Howe Sen
Tara Mary George Tara Mary George
Mae-Lynn Catherine Bastion Mae-Lynn Catherine Bastion
Muhaya Hj Mohamad Muhaya Hj Mohamad

Abstract
Two case reports of retinal vasculitis in presumptive ocular tuberculosis are presented. Case 1 is a 26-year-old Malay woman who had phlebitis with choroidal lesions and case 2 is a 27 year old Malay woman who had occlusive arteritis. Both subjects had positive Mantoux tests with negative systemic screen. Both responded clinically to anti-tuberculous therapy within days of commencing therapy. There was however concurrent increase in vitritis which decreased following anti-inflammatory doses of oral corticosteroids. These two cases represent a rare mode of presentation of ocular tuberculosis for which a high index of suspicion is needed. Multidrug anti-tuberculous therapy should be combined with oral corticosteroids for effective treatment.

Keywords : Mantoux, ocular tuberculosis, retinal vasculitis,

Correspondance Address
Dr Mae-Lynn Catherine Bastion, Department of Ophthalmology,Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Email: maelynnbdr@hotmail.com