Association of tuberculosis with vasculitis retinae

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Retinal vasculitis is a significant cause of blindness in young adults in the subcontinent.
• Tuberculosis is a known potential cause of retinal vasculitis.
• Understanding the demographic and etiological factors of retinal vasculitis is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the demographic characteristics of patients with retinal vasculitis.
• To explore the potential association between tuberculosis and retinal vasculitis.
• To identify common presenting symptoms and risk factors.

Main Methods:

• A case control study involving 45 patients with retinal vasculitis.
• Patients were selected from ophthalmology departments in Dhaka.
• The Mantoux test was used to assess tuberculosis exposure in both cases and controls.

Main Results:

• Retinal vasculitis predominantly affects younger individuals (68.9%), with a mean age of 31.84 years.
• The condition is more prevalent in males (75.6%) and individuals of middle socioeconomic status (62.2%).
• Common symptoms include floaters, hazy media, vitreous hemorrhage, and retinal hemorrhage. The Mantoux test showed no statistically significant association with retinal vasculitis.

Conclusions:

• Retinal vasculitis is a disease primarily affecting young males from middle socioeconomic backgrounds.
• While tuberculosis is prevalent in the region, its direct association with retinal vasculitis was not statistically significant in this study.
• Further extensive research is needed to elucidate the role of tuberculosis and other factors in retinal vasculitis.