Open AccessOphthalmoscopy in the early diagnosis of opportunistic tuberculosis following renal transplant
Author(s) -
Salil Mehta,
Lohitaksha Suratkal
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
indian journal of ophthalmology/indian journal of ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1998-3689
pISSN - 0301-4738
DOI - 10.4103/0301-4738.33832
Subject(s) - medicine , immunosuppression , tuberculosis , opportunistic infection , diabetes mellitus , renal transplant , intensive care medicine , disease , pediatrics , transplantation , immunology , viral disease , pathology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , endocrinology
Chronic renal failure is a common sequel of renal inflammatory disease or diabetes mellitus. As a result of the immunosuppression that is induced by uremia, hemodialysis or posttransplant immunosuppressive medication, these patients are at a higher risk of opportunistic infections. Various viral, bacterial and mycobacterial infections have been reported. Tuberculosis is a common systemic opportunistic infection but reports of ocular involvement with pulmonary or disseminated tuberculosis are rare. We report the systemic and ocular findings in two postrenal-transplant patients with pulmonary or disseminated tuberculosis in whom detection of choroidal tubercles led to confirmation of the diagnosis in both patients and was the only specific premortem finding in one. Fundoscopy in this group of patients may help in the diagnosis of opportunistic tuberculosis, its earlier treatment and the consequent reduction of morbidity and mortality.