Further evidence of the association of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Eales' disease.

PURPOSE: To find out association of Eales' disease with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

METHODS: A retrospective study was done recruiting patients visiting the uvea clinic with diagnosis of Eales' disease from 2015-2019. Seventy-nine eyes of 50 patients diagnosed as Eales' disease underwent Mantoux test, QuantiFERON-TB Gold test, high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest and anterior chamber or vitreous tap for TB genome polymerase chain reaction(PCR).

RESULTS: The study included 41 males and 9 females. The mean age of the patient was 35.62 ± 11.49 y. Out of 50 patients, 42% (n = 21) patients had unilateral involvement. Mantoux test was positive in 73% patients. QuantiFERON-TB Gold test was positive in 56% patients. HRCT chest was suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis in 34% patients. Out of 6 patients, PCR from anterior chamber tap showed TB genome positive in 2 (33.3%) patients. Out of 9 patients, vitreous tap PCR was positive for TB genome in 2 (22.2%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that one or more tests were positive for TB in Eales' disease suggesting a pivotal role of TB as a primary etiology for this disease. We conclude that Eales' disease is associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.