Erik Schaftenaar1, Christina Meenken2, G Seerp Baarsma3, N Sellina Khosa4, Ad Luijendijk5, James A McIntyre6, Albert D M E Osterhaus7, Georges M G M Verjans8, Remco P H Peters9. 1. Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 3. Rotterdam Ophthalmic Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 4. Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa. 5. Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 6. Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa School of Public Health & Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. 7. Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany. 8. Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonoses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany. 9. Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Abstract
AIMS: To determine the burden of disease in a unique sample of patients with uveitis from a rural South African setting. METHODS: Data in this cross-sectional study were collected from patients presenting with uveitis (n=103) at the ophthalmology outpatient department of three hospitals in rural South Africa. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and laboratory analysis of aqueous humour, serological evaluation and routine diagnostics for tuberculosis (TB) were performed. RESULTS: Sixty-six (64%) participants were HIV infected. Uveitis was predominantly of infectious origin (72%) followed by idiopathic (16%) and autoimmune (12%). Infectious uveitis was attributed to herpes virus (51%), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (24%) and Treponema pallidum (7%) infection. HIV-infected individuals were more likely to have infectious aetiology of uveitis compared with HIV-uninfected individuals (83% vs 51%; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Microbial aetiology of uveitis is common in areas where HIV and TB are endemic. In these settings, a high index of suspicion for infectious origin of uveitis is warranted. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
AIMS: To determine the burden of disease in a unique sample of patients with uveitis from a rural South African setting. METHODS: Data in this cross-sectional study were collected from patients presenting with uveitis (n=103) at the ophthalmology outpatient department of three hospitals in rural South Africa. Demographic and clinical data were collected, and laboratory analysis of aqueous humour, serological evaluation and routine diagnostics for tuberculosis (TB) were performed. RESULTS: Sixty-six (64%) participants were HIV infected. Uveitis was predominantly of infectious origin (72%) followed by idiopathic (16%) and autoimmune (12%). Infectious uveitis was attributed to herpes virus (51%), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (24%) and Treponema pallidum (7%) infection. HIV-infected individuals were more likely to have infectious aetiology of uveitis compared with HIV-uninfected individuals (83% vs 51%; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Microbial aetiology of uveitis is common in areas where HIV and TB are endemic. In these settings, a high index of suspicion for infectious origin of uveitis is warranted. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
Entities:
Keywords:
Epidemiology; Infection; Microbiology; Public health