Lepromatous uveitis diagnosed by iris biopsy

• Published in: Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology Vol. 236; no. 9; pp. 717 - 719
• Main Authors: MESSMER, E. M, RAIZMAN, M. B, FOSTER, C. S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.09.1998; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Aqueous Humor - microbiology; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; Drug Therapy, Combination; Eye Infections, Bacterial - diagnosis; Eye Infections, Bacterial - drug therapy; Eye Infections, Bacterial - microbiology; Glaucoma - diagnosis; Glaucoma - microbiology; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Iris - microbiology; Iris - pathology; Keratitis - diagnosis; Keratitis - microbiology; Leprostatic Agents - therapeutic use; Leprosy, Lepromatous - diagnosis; Leprosy, Lepromatous - drug therapy; Leprosy, Lepromatous - microbiology; Male; Medical sciences; Mycobacterium leprae - genetics; Mycobacterium leprae - isolation & purification; Ophthalmology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Skin - microbiology; Tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections; Uveitis, Anterior - diagnosis; Uveitis, Anterior - drug therapy; Uveitis, Anterior - microbiology; Human; Mycobacterium leprae; Uvea disease; Mycobacterial infection; Infection; Case study; Eye; Eye disease; Mycobacteriales; Biopsy; Iris(eye); Uveitis; Bacteriosis; Mycobacteriaceae; Bacteria; Actinomycetes; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 0721-832X; 1435-702X
• DOI: 10.1007/s004170050147

Ocular leprosy is rarely seen in developed countries. We report the long-term follow-up of a patient with bilateral uveitis, glaucoma, and keratitis. Skin, iris and aqueous humor biopsies disclosed abundant Wade-Fite-positive organisms consistent with Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy must be considered in the differential diagnosis of keratitis and uveitis.