The role of the TB T-spot test in patients with tubercular retinal vasculitis

  • Elin Lee
  • Srinivasan Sanjay Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), Singapore; Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (YLLSoM, NUS), Singapore
  • Stephen Teoh Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), Singapore; Department of Ophthalmology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), Singapore;
Keywords: Tuberculosis, retinal vasculitis, TB T-spot, Singapore

Abstract

Purpose: To report tuberculosis (TB) T-spot diagnosis and management of two cases of presumptive tubercular retinal vasculitis in Singapore.
Method: Retrospective case reports.
Results: Two patients were diagnosed with presumptive TB retinal vasculitis using clinical features, TB T-spot test and ancillary investigations. They were successfully treated with a combination therapy of oral steroids, anti-tuberculosis medications and pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP). Follow-up demonstrated resolution of symptoms and signs with no complications arising from anti-tuberculosis medications.
Conclusions: TB retinal vasculitis presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Ocular TB diagnosis is often presumptive, as confirmatory evidence of organisms from the eye has low yield. The results of culture and Mantoux test require a long waiting period. TB T-spot provides rapid results with high sensitivity and specificity, thus holding promise as a diagnostic tool. Management of TB retinal vasculitis is multi-modal and multi-disciplinary requiring oral steroids and pan-retinal photocoagulation by the ophthalmologists and anti-tuberculosis medications by the Physicians.

Author Biography

Elin Lee

1. Medical Officer

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital

Singapore

 

2. Graduate of Transitional Year Residency AY 2012 - 2013

National Healthcare Group

 

Published
2016-01-20
How to Cite
Lee, E., Sanjay, S., & Teoh, S. (2016). The role of the TB T-spot test in patients with tubercular retinal vasculitis. Asian Journal of Ophthalmology, 14(3), 137-143. https://doi.org/10.35119/asjoo.v14i3.120
Section
Case Reports/Case Series