[Three cases of uveitis induced by mycobacteriosis therapy using rifabutin]

Rifabutin has been used clinically to combat tuberculosis as well as nontuberculosis Mycobacterium since 2008 in Japan. Uveitis associated with rifabutin is described in many reports, but none of these are of Japanese. We report three Japanese cases of nontuberculosis Mycobacterium with rifabutin-associated uveitis. CASE 1: A 91-year-old woman developed bilateral uveitis with hypopyon and vitreous opacity at 2 months after the initiation of rifabutin administration. The uveitis persisted regardless of topical administration of corticosteroids and the discontinuance of rifabutin. Her right eye required goniosynechiolysis in order to cure a secondary glaucoma, and the left eye required vitrectomy in order to cure vitreous inflammation. CASE 2: A 72-year-old woman developed uveitis in her right eye at 7 months after the initiation of rifabutin administration. Rifabutin was stopped two days after she presented, and the uveitis resolved quickly with topical administration of corticosteroids. CASE 3: An 83-year-old woman developed bilateral uveitis at 6 months after the initiation of rifabutin administration. The rifabutin was stopped two months after the initiation and the uveitis resolved with topical corticosteroids.

Rifabutin rarely causes uveitis as an ocular side effect. Early diagnosis and is important and reduction or discontinuance of the rifabutin as well as anti-inflammatory therapy need to be implemented when a patient develops this condition.