Abstract
Intraocular involvement by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is common in the absence of systemic evidence of tuberculosis. It can have protean manifestations with certain clinical signs that differentiate it from nontubercular causes of uveitis. Retinal vasculitis and serpiginous-like choroiditis have typical presentations. The diagnosis is usually presumptive and corroborated by laboratory tests such as positive tuberculin skin test or IFN-g release assays, or radiographic evidence on chest x-ray or PET/computer-assisted tomography. Definitive diagnosis by histopathological demonstration of mycobacteria is extremely rare, although PCR is increasingly being performed on intraocular samples. Antitubercular therapy effectively reduces the rate of recurrence of inflammation when administered in a timely manner along with corticosteroids.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
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