Rifabutin Related Uveitis in AIDS: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To describe a case of symptomatic rifabutin-related uveitis with hypopyon and vitreous opacity in apatient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. CASE SUMMARY: A 33-year-old male patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was referred to our clinic for abruptly decreased vision in his right eye. Multi-drug therapy with rifabutin was administered for 5 weeks to treat tuberculosis enteritis and pulmonary tuberculosis. Visual acuity of the right eye was hand motion and hypopyon as well as vitreous opacity was found in ocular examinations. Other serologic tests, anterior chamber paracentesis and lumbar puncture test were normal. Rifabutin was immediately stopped and topical steroid and cycloplegics were administered, which resulted in resolution of the hypopyon, vitreous opacity and visual acuity. Four weeks after the initial episode, rifabutin was restarted to treat the pulmonary tuberculosis and rifabutin-related uveitis relapsed in the opposite eye. CONCLUSIONS: Rifabutin-related uveitis should be considered in cases of uveitis in immunosuppressive patients, especially in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. Underlying disease and medication history should be carefully assessed.