Structural-functional dissociation in presumed ethambutol optic neuropathy.

Abstract

A 55-year-old man with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium intracellulare infection developed decreased vision to 3/200 in the right eye, and 20/200 in the left eye, 11 months after starting ethambutol, rifampin, and isoniazid. A diagnosis of presumed ethambutol optic neuropathy was made, and the medications were discontinued. Visual acuity gradually improved to 20/30 and 20/70 over a period of 34 months. Despite improved central vision and visual field, the patient developed progressive bilateral optic disc cupping, disc pallor, and diffuse nerve fiber layer loss on optical coherence tomography. The observed optic nerve head structural changes in this patient did not correlate with the markedly improved visual function. Visual improvement may occur in ethambutol optic neuropathy despite progressive structural changes.

• Authors: Daniel Masvidal, Richard K Parrish 2nd, Byron L Lam
• Journal: Journal of neuro-ophthalmology : the official journal of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (J Neuroophthalmol) Vol. 30 Issue 4 Pg. 305-10 (Dec 2010) ISSN: 1536-5166 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20592624 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antitubercular Agents
• Neurotoxins
• Ethambutol

Topics

• Antitubercular Agents (adverse effects)
• Ethambutol (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection (drug therapy)
• Neurotoxins (adverse effects)
• Optic Nerve Diseases (chemically induced, pathology, physiopathology)