Presumed tuberculosis-related scleritis

To evaluate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcome of patients with recurrent scleritis of unknown demonstrable aetiology and positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT).

Retrospective chart review of the demographic, clinical, laboratory and therapeutic outcome data of 15 patients. Clinical characteristics as well as remission rate after standard antituberculous therapy (ATT) were assessed.

There were 9 men and 6 women with a mean age of 48.9 years (range, 32-73). Scleritis was diffuse in 10 patients (66.6%) and nodular in 5 patients (33.3%), 1 of them with concomitant posterior scleritis. It was bilateral in 7 patients (46.6%) and recurrent in all of them. Scleritis appeared after prior uveitis (10 patients, 66.6%) and/or with concomitant uveitis (5 patients, 33.3%) or peripheral keratitis (5 patients, 33.3%). Previous ocular surgery was found in 7 patients (46.6%). Previous extraocular tuberculosis (TB) infection or previous TB contact was detected in 11 patients (73.3%). No radiologic findings of active extraocular TB were detected. ATT was used in 15 patients, sometimes with the addition of systemic corticosteroids (5 patients) and methotrexate (1 patient); 14 patients achieved complete remission (93.3%).

Presumed TB-related scleritis may appear in recurrent scleritis of unknown origin and positive QFT. It may occur after prior uveitis and/or concomitantly with uveitis or peripheral keratitis, and it may be triggered by previous ocular surgery. No patients had evidence of concurrent active extraocular infection, although many had previous TB infection or TB contact. ATT was effective, sometimes with the addition of systemic corticosteroids and methotrexate.