Ocular tuberculosis in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

AIM

To determine the prevalence and clinical features of ocular tuberculosis in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

DESIGN

Prospective cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Detailed history and ocular examination of 46 patients (92 eyes) in the outpatient department of an AIDS clinic.

RESULTS

Seventeen of 46 (36.9%) patients had clinical and radiological evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. Of these, four (23.5%) showed findings consistent with ocular tuberculosis. Lesions included tubercles (1 eye of 3 patients) and chorioretinitis (1 eye of 1 patient). Commonly, these patients had evidence of abdominal tuberculosis. Hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO), cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR), and disc edema were other non-tubercular AIDS-related lesions and were seen in seven of the remaining 42 patients (16.2%).

CONCLUSION

Ocular tuberculosis was a common finding in this study and was found in profoundly immunocompromised patients with disseminated tuberculosis. Diagnosis of ocular tuberculosis may help reduce HIV/tuberculosis co-infection mortality.