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Persistent corneal endothelial deposits associated with rifabutin therapy for Crohn's disease

Katie Williams1, Luca Ilari

  • 1West Kent Eye Centre, Princess Royal University Hospital, South London NHS Trust, Orpington, Kent, United Kingdom. kmw.email@gmail.com

Cornea
|May 12, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Rifabutin therapy for Crohn's disease can cause persistent corneal endothelial deposits, even years after treatment stops. This case highlights the long-term nature of these ocular side effects.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Rifabutin is a key antibiotic used in treating Mycobacterium avium complex infections and is also utilized off-label for inflammatory conditions like Crohn's disease.
  • Ocular side effects associated with rifabutin are documented, though corneal endothelial deposits are rare.

Observation:

  • A case report details a 55-year-old gentleman who developed corneal endothelial deposits during rifabutin therapy for Crohn's disease.
  • Anterior segment photography was used to document the ocular findings.

Findings:

  • Corneal endothelial deposits persisted in the patient for 6 years after completing a 3-year course of rifabutin.
  • These deposits were not associated with other ocular complications such as lenticular opacities or retinal dysfunction.

Implications:

  • This case is only the second documented instance of corneal deposits linked to rifabutin for Crohn's disease.
  • It uniquely demonstrates the prolonged persistence of these corneal deposits, extending beyond previously reported durations and emphasizing the need for long-term ophthalmological monitoring in patients on rifabutin.
Abstract

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