To evaluate the role of pentoxifylline in optic atrophy induced by tuberculosis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20160774Keywords:
Optic atrophy, Pentoxifylline, TuberculosisAbstract
A 30 year female, presented two years back with complaint of gradual loss of vision in L/E followed by poor vision in R/E and she was diagnosed as having miliary tuberculosis and taken complete ATT. Patient was started on pentoxifylline 400 mg twice daily and observed after 15 days. There was rapid improvement in vision. Patient was followed up at every month for first three months and then every three monthly for two years. For this patient, treatment with oral pentoxifylline 400mg twice daily for two years led to improvement in visual acuity. The improved visual acuity in this patient suggests that pentoxifylline is an effective treatment of optic atrophy of eye in the patients with tuberculosis.
References
Davis EJ, Rathinam SR. Clinical spectrum of tuberculous optic neuropathy. J Ophthalmic Inflamm Infect. 2012;2:183-9.
Pradhan M, Sharp D, Best S. Drug induced optic neuropathy TB or not TB. Surv Ophthalmol. 2010;55:378-85.
Frampton JE, Borgden RN. Pentoxifylline: A review of its therapeutic efficacy in the management of peripheral vascular and cerebrovascular disorders. Drugs & aging. Pubmed. 1995;7:480-503.
Lee AG, Chau FY, Golnik KC, Kardon RH, Wall M. The diagnostic yield of the evaluation for isolated unexplained optic atrophy. Ophthalmology. 2005;112:757-9.
Lamba PA, Bhalla JS, Mullick DN. Ocular manifestations of tubercular meningitis: A clinico-biochemical study. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 1986;23:123.
Griffith DE, Barbara A, Brown E. Ethambutol Ocular Toxicity in Treatment Regimens for Mycobacterium avium Complex Lung Disease. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2005;172:250-3.
Konde LA. Pharmacological properties of pentoxyfylline and its use in ophthalmology. Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal. 1986;4:283-6.