Ocular Tuberculosis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Systemic Tuberculosis Co-infected Patients

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To describe the prevalence and clinical findings of ocular tuberculosis (TB) in Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and systemic TB co-infected patients.

Methods: In this prospective, observational, non-comparative case series, we included HIV and systemic TB co-infected patients, who underwent a detailed ophthalmic and systemic evaluation.

Results: Of 85 patients, ocular tuberculosis was seen in eleven patients and their 16 eyes (12.9%). Without the benefit of eye exam, the diagnosis of disseminated TB was missed in 5/52 (9.6%) and 2/25 (8%) of patients clinically assumed to have pulmonary and Extrapulmonary TB, respectively.

Conclusion: HIV patients with the disseminated TB have higher risk for ocular TB. As ocular symptoms are rare, still all of them need a detailed ocular examination to look for active ocular TB which will reclassify isolated pulmonary/extrapulmonary to disseminated TB warranting a detailed systemic examination.

KEYWORDS:

• Extrapulmonary tuberculosis
• human immunodeficiency virus
• ocular tuberculosis
• tuberculosis
• disseminated tuberculosis

Author Contributions

SJ, PB, SK, KS, MD, AS, and RS: substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work. SJ, PB, BT, SK, RS: acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data. RS, VG, and MRD: drafting of the manuscript or revising it critically for important intellectual content. SJ, RS, the PB: final approval of the version published. RS, MRD: agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Ethics approval

Ethics committee, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.

Patient consent

Obtained.