Follow up of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness with optic coherence tomography in patients receiving anti-tubercular treatment may reveal early optic neuropathy.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the effect of anti-tubercular treatment on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and the efficiency of optic coherence tomography (OCT) on early diagnosis of optic neuropathy.

METHODS:

Twenty patients diagnosed with either pulmonary or extra-pulmonary tuberculosis which were treated with anti-tubercular treatment (isoniazid (INH), rifampicin, ethambutol (ETM), and pyrazinamide) were enrolled in the study. RNFL thicknesses of the patients were measured via OCT, at baseline (before starting anti-tubercular treatment) and after the two-month treatment period. Standard ophthalmologic examinations were also performed.

RESULTS:

Compared to baseline values, after the two-month treatment period, thinning was detected in the right eye's average and superior quadrant RNFLs (p = 0.024 and p = 0.006 respectively) and in the left eye's average, superior quadrant, and inferior quadrant RNFLs (p = 0.001, p = 0.008, p < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

We displayed that patients receiving INH and ETM, which were the basic medicines of anti-tubercular treatment, experienced thinning in RNFL after the two-month treatment period. Patients receiving these drugs can be followed via OCT in terms of reduction in RNFL thicknesses for early diagnose of INH and ETM toxicity.

• Authors: Aziz Gümüş, Veysi Öner
• Journal: Cutaneous and ocular toxicology (Cutan Ocul Toxicol) Vol. 34 Issue 3 Pg. 212-6 ( 2015) ISSN: 1556-9535 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25363070 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antitubercular Agents

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antitubercular Agents (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nerve Fibers (pathology)
• Optic Nerve (pathology)
• Optic Nerve Diseases (chemically induced, diagnosis)
• Tomography, Optical Coherence
• Tuberculosis (complications, drug therapy)
• Young Adult