PURPOSE: To describe the ocular presentation of disseminated mycobacterial disease occurring during immune-recovery in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). STUDY DESIGN: Case report and literature review. PARTICIPANTS: A 41-year-old AIDS patient with a prior diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis. METHODS: The patient developed progressive, bilateral multifocal choroiditis with panuveitis 2 months after beginning and responding to highly active antiretroviral therapy. His left eye became blind and painful and was enucleated. Pathologic examination revealed massive choroiditis with well-formed, discrete granulomas and multiple intracellular and extracellular acid-fast organisms within the choroidal granulomas. Culture and polymerase chain reaction of vitreous specimens revealed Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). RESULTS: Empiric, and later sensitivity-guided, local and systemic antibiotic therapy was used to treat the remaining right eye, but it continued to deteriorate. Despite medical therapy, three vitrectomies and repeated intravitreal injections of amikacin, a total retinal detachment ensued. One week after the third vitrectomy, the patient died from mesenteric artery thrombosis in the setting of disseminated mycobacterial disease. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of ocular inflammation as the presenting finding in the recently recognized syndrome of immune-recovery MAC disease. Pathogenesis of this entity is related to an enhanced immune response to a prior, subclinical, disseminated infection. The formation of discrete granulomas, normally absent in MAC infections in AIDS, reflects this mechanism.
PURPOSE: To describe the ocular presentation of disseminated mycobacterial disease occurring during immune-recovery in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). STUDY DESIGN: Case report and literature review. PARTICIPANTS: A 41-year-old AIDSpatient with a prior diagnosis of cytomegalovirus retinitis. METHODS: The patient developed progressive, bilateral multifocal choroiditis with panuveitis 2 months after beginning and responding to highly active antiretroviral therapy. His left eye became blind and painful and was enucleated. Pathologic examination revealed massive choroiditis with well-formed, discrete granulomas and multiple intracellular and extracellular acid-fast organisms within the choroidal granulomas. Culture and polymerase chain reaction of vitreous specimens revealed Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). RESULTS: Empiric, and later sensitivity-guided, local and systemic antibiotic therapy was used to treat the remaining right eye, but it continued to deteriorate. Despite medical therapy, three vitrectomies and repeated intravitreal injections of amikacin, a total retinal detachment ensued. One week after the third vitrectomy, the patient died from mesenteric artery thrombosis in the setting of disseminated mycobacterial disease. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of ocular inflammation as the presenting finding in the recently recognized syndrome of immune-recovery MAC disease. Pathogenesis of this entity is related to an enhanced immune response to a prior, subclinical, disseminated infection. The formation of discrete granulomas, normally absent in MACinfections in AIDS, reflects this mechanism.
Authors: P Pignataro; A da Silva Rocha; J A C Nery; A Miranda; A M Sales; H Ferrreira; V Valentim; P N Suffys Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2004-04-27 Impact factor: 3.267