Ocular TB in Western Australia

Abstract

<sec><title>SETTING</title>This was a retrospective chart review in Western Australia, Australia.</sec><sec><title>OBJECTIVE</title>To describe the diagnosis, management, and treatment outcomes of ocular TB in Western Australia (WA).</sec><sec><title>DESIGN</title>This was a retrospective review of ocular TB cases in WA from 2007 to 2018 with a minimum 2-year follow-up upon completion of anti-TB therapy (ATT).</sec><sec><title>RESULTS</title>A total of 44 patients were referred to WA TB clinic. Ten were excluded from the analysis of treatment response; 34 met the inclusion criteria, of whom 97.1% were born overseas. No patients had symptomatic extraocular TB. Chest X-ray showed prior pulmonary TB in 11.7% of patients (n = 4). All patients were treated with three or four ATT drugs. The most common ocular TB manifestation was retinal vasculitis (23.5%). Full resolution of ocular inflammation following ATT occurred in 66.7% (n = 22), and reduced ocular inflammation requiring only topical steroid treatment was seen in 21.2% (n = 7). Treatment failure occurred in 12.1% (n = 4). Side effects were reported in 45.6% of patients, with gastrointestinal symptoms most common (27.2%).</sec><sec><title>CONCLUSION</title>Our study is the first Australian study examining the management of ocular TB. Our study highlights the challenges in diagnosing TB ocular disease in a low-endemicity setting and the importance of the collaboration between uveitis and TB subspecialists.</sec>