A case of miliary tuberculosis with brain tuberculoma, following intraocular tuberculosis

• Published in: Kekkaku Vol. 73; no. 10; p. 591
• Main Authors: Takakura, S, Tanaka, E, Kimoto, T, Watanabe, I, Matsumoto, H, Tsuyuguchi, K, Niimi, A, Suzuki, K, Amitani, R, Kuze, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 01-10-1998
• Subjects: Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Antitubercular Agents - administration & dosage; Betamethasone - administration & dosage; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Tuberculoma, Intracranial - drug therapy; Tuberculoma, Intracranial - etiology; Tuberculosis, Miliary - drug therapy; Tuberculosis, Miliary - etiology; Tuberculosis, Ocular - complications; Tuberculosis, Ocular - drug therapy
• ISSN: 0022-9776

A 52-year-old woman with visual loss of her left eye consulted a ophthalmology clinic. She was conducted left vitrectomy and administered corticosteroid under the diagnosis of uveitis of unknown cause. But her visual acuity was not improved. Although re-surgery was planned, pus retention was found in her left eye. After her left eye was resected, fever and general malaise appeared suddenly. Her chest X-ray film revealed diffuse micronodular opacities. Acid-fast bacilli were detected from her sputum and identified to be Mycobacterium tuberculosis. She was diagnosed miliary tuberculosis, and then antituberculous chemotherapy consisting of 4 drugs was started. Granulomatous inflammation destructing retina and numerous acid-fact bacilli were found in histologic examination of the resected eye. This case was thought to be miliary tuberculosis disseminated from intraocular tuberculosis. After 2 months of therapy, neurologic symptoms which might be caused by brain tuberucloma appeared and deteriorated rapidly. But by adding corticosteroid to antituberculous therapy, symptoms were diminished gradually.