CHORIORETINITIS SECONDARY TO MYCOBACTERIUM-TUBERCULOSIS IN ACQUIRED-IMMUNE-DEFICIENCY-SYNDROME

Background: Several opportunistic intraocular infections have been des cribed in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus, among them i nfections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In most cases, the dia gnosis is based on clinical findings. Recent reports have described th e usefulness of polymerase chain reaction techniques in the diagnosis of bacterial infections. Methods: The authors observed a 29-year-old w oman with acquired immune deficiency syndrome in whom unilateral chori oretinitis developed. The chorioretinitis appeared after cessation of treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis. We obtained aqueous humor by par acentesis and tested it by polymerase chain reaction to detect M. tube rculosis DNA. Results: The polymerase chain reaction of the aqueous hu mor was positive for M. tuberculosis DNA. Conclusion: Polymerase chain reaction was useful in identifying M. tuberculosis in aqueous from a patient with chorioretinitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, and acquired imm une deficiency syndrome.