Rifabutin-Associated Panuveitis with Retinal Vasculitis in Pulmonary Tuberculosis

• Published in: Ocular immunology and inflammation Vol. 13; no. 6; pp. 483 - 485
• Main Authors: Skolik, Stephanie, Willermain, François, Caspers, Laure E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa UK Ltd 01.12.2005; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Adult; Antibiotics, Antitubercular - adverse effects; Antibiotics, Antitubercular - therapeutic use; Female; Fluorescein Angiography; Follow-Up Studies; Fundus Oculi; Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium; Panuveitis - chemically induced; Panuveitis - drug therapy; Panuveitis - pathology; Prednisolone - administration & dosage; retinal vasculitis; Retinal Vasculitis - chemically induced; Retinal Vasculitis - drug therapy; Retinal Vasculitis - pathology; rifabutin; Rifabutin - adverse effects; Rifabutin - therapeutic use; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - complications; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - drug therapy; Uveitis
• ISSN: 0927-3948; 1744-5078
• DOI: 10.1080/09273940590951115

Introduction: Rifabutin-associated uveitis has been reported frequently in AIDS patients and more rarely in immunocompetent patients. It is characterized clinically by anterior acute uveitis. Only a few poorly documented cases of rifabutin-induced panuveitis with retinal vasculitis have been reported. Here, we report four cases of rifabutin-associated panuveitis with retinal vasculitis. Case reports: We describe four patients with active tuberculosis, treated with a multidrug regimen including rifabutin for at least 1.5 months before presentation. The first patient was immunocompetent, the three others had AIDS and were undergoing triple anti-HIV therapy. Three patients were women with a low body weight. All four patients presented with panuveitis and retinal vasculitis. Interruption of the drug rapidly reduced the ocular inflammation in all cases. Conclusion: Four cases of rifabutin-associated panuveitis with retinal vasculitis are reported in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Immunogenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as the very low weight of the patients might be implicated in the development of this unusual form of rifabutin-associated uveitis.