Ophthalmoscopy in the early diagnosis of opportunistic tuberculosis following renal transplant.

ABSTRACT

Chronic renal failure is a common sequel of renal inflammatory disease or diabetes mellitus. As a result of the immunosuppression that is induced by uremia, hemodialysis or posttransplant immunosuppressive medication, these patients are at a higher risk of opportunistic infections. Various viral, bacterial and mycobacterial infections have been reported. Tuberculosis is a common systemic opportunistic infection but reports of ocular involvement with pulmonary or disseminated tuberculosis are rare. We report the systemic and ocular findings in two postrenal-transplant patients with pulmonary or disseminated tuberculosis in whom detection of choroidal tubercles led to confirmation of the diagnosis in both patients and was the only specific premortem finding in one. Fundoscopy in this group of patients may help in the diagnosis of opportunistic tuberculosis, its earlier treatment and the consequent reduction of morbidity and mortality.