Acute Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Associated with Optic Nerve Demyelination
Manik Mathur *
MBBS, Diploma Vascular Med (UK), Clinical Ph.D. Neurology (UK), Member of American Academy of Neurology Consultant Neurologist, Department of Clinical Neurology, GNRC Hospitals, Guwahati, India
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Manik Mathur, MBBS, Diploma Vascular Med (UK), Clinical Ph.D. Neurology (UK), Member of American Academy of Neurology, Consultant Neurologist, Department of Clinical Neurology, GNRC Hospitals, Guwahati, India
Received: January 26, 2022 Published: February 21, 2022
Abstract
With increasing prevalence of tuberculosis in central and East Asia, antitubercular (ATT) drugs administered are frequently associated with ocular side effects. Out of the ATTs, Ethambutol is commonly implicated as a drug responsible. Although, It is generally well tolerated, but known to cause optic neuritis causing blurred vision which further results into decreased visual acuity with/out central scotomas, and loss of red-green colour vision. With unknown pathogenesis behind the toxicity, optic neuritis due to ethambutol is generally considered as reversible upon prompt discontinuation of the drug. We present one such clinical case of a 57-year-old male patient with recently diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) following initiation of ATTs the patient complains of blurred vision with changes in colour. Moreover, with careful discontinuation of Ethambutol and adding a brief steroid therapy drastically improves the vision and with right colour adaptation. Therefore, educating the patients for early detection of the ocular manifestations following ATTs and regular follow-ups are very essential.
Keywords: Tuberculosis, demyelination, optic nerve, inflammation
Citation: Mathur M. “Acute Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Associated with Optic Nerve Demyelination”. SVOA Neurology 3:2 (2022) Pages 28-29.
