Anterior chamber paracentesis to improve diagnosis and treatment of infectious uveitis in South Africa

Infectious uveitis is a significant cause of blindness in South Africa, especially among HIV-infected individuals. The visual outcome of uveitis depends on early clinical and laboratory diagnosis to guide therapeutic intervention. Analyses of aqueous humor, obtained by anterior chamber paracentesis,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSouth African medical journal Vol. 105; no. 8; p. 628
Main Authors Schaftenaar, Erik, Lecuona, Karin, Baarsma, Seerp, Meenken, Christina, Verjans, Georges, McIntyre, James, Peters, Remco
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published South Africa Health & Medical Publishing Group 01.08.2015
Subjects
Anterior chamber (Eye)
Anterior Chamber - microbiology
Care and treatment
Comorbidity
Diagnosis
HIV Infections - epidemiology
Humans
Paracentesis
Risk factors
South Africa
Uveitis
Uveitis - diagnosis
Uveitis - epidemiology
Uveitis - microbiology
Uveitis - therapy
South Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
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Summary:Infectious uveitis is a significant cause of blindness in South Africa, especially among HIV-infected individuals. The visual outcome of uveitis depends on early clinical and laboratory diagnosis to guide therapeutic intervention. Analyses of aqueous humor, obtained by anterior chamber paracentesis, directs the differential diagnosis in infectious uveitis. However, although safe and potentially cost-effective, diagnostic anterior chamber paracentesis is not common practice in ophthalmic care across Africa. We seek to draw attention to this important procedure that could improve the diagnosis and prognosis of infectious uveitis.
ISSN:0256-9574
DOI:10.7196/SAMJnew.7816