The Prevalence of Intraocular Tuberculosis in HIV-positive and HIV-negative Patients in South Africa Using a Revised Classification System

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To report the prevalence of intraocular tuberculosis in South Africa using a revised classification system.

Methods: A prospective study to determine the underlying etiology in patients presenting with uveitis to a tertiary Eye Clinic.

Results: A total of 35 out of 106 patients (33.0%) were diagnosed with intraocular tuberculosis, of which 11 (31.4%) had HIV infection; 23 patients (65.7%) had possible intraocular tuberculosis and 12 (34.3%) had probable intraocular tuberculosis. Patients with probable intraocular tuberculosis were younger than those with possible intraocular tuberculosis (p = 0.003). More males (66.7%) had probable intraocular tuberculosis and more females (73.9%) had possible intraocular tuberculosis (p = 0.031). More HIV-positive patients had probable intraocular tuberculosis and more HIV-negative patients had possible intraocular tuberculosis (p = 0.002).

Conclusions: South Africa has a high prevalence of intraocular tuberculosis. Younger, male, HIV-positive patients are more likely to have probable intraocular tuberculosis, while older, female, HIV-negative patients are more likely to have possible intraocular tuberculosis.

Keywords:

• Classification
• HIV
• intraocular tuberculosis
• prevalence
• South Africa

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

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