TREATMENT OF REFRACTORY TUBERCULAR SERPIGINOUS-LIKE CHOROIDITIS WITH INTRAVITREAL METHOTREXATE

To describe a case of tubercular serpiginous-like choroiditis that progressed, despite antitubercular medication, corticosteroids, and immunomodulatory treatment, which ultimately quieted after two intravitreal methotrexate injections.

Case report.

A 35-year-old woman reported a shadow in the left eye for 2 weeks. She presented with tubercular serpiginous-like choroiditis in the right eye 2 years prior. At that time, she was started on antituberculosis therapy but was noncompliant and lost to follow-up. On re-presentation, there was a new active left-eye serpiginous lesion, with repeat positive QuantiFERON gold testing. Four antituberculosis drugs were started, followed by corticosteroids and azathioprine, with continued progression despite aggressive treatment. She was finally given 2 intravitreal methotrexate injections (400 μg/0.1 cc) 1 month apart, with final arrest of lesion extension. The uveitis remained quiet for over 24 months, and the patient was able to discontinue all systemic therapy.

Intravitreal methotrexate injections halted progression of treatment-refractory tubercular serpiginous-like choroiditis.