Conjunctival Non-Caseating Granulomas in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Positive Patient Attributed to Sarcoidosis

Abstract

Purpose: To report a rare case of isolated ocular sarcoidosis in an HIV positive patient. Design: Case report. Methods: A 47-year-old HIV+ Caucasian male was referred for chronic bilateral follicular conjunctivitis. Results: A conjunctival biopsy that was performed on the right eye showed sarcoidosis. General medical evaluation including a spiral thin cut chest CT scan revealed no systemic involvement. The ocular signs and symptoms resolved completely with topical corticosteroid treatment. Conclusions: HIV infection and sarcoidosis rarely coexist, presumably because their immunopathogenesis mechanisms diverge. In the absence of systemic involvement, a definite diagnosis can only be made by biopsy of the ocular tissues.

KEYWORDS:

• Conjunctival non-caseating granuloma
• HIV
• sarcoidosis