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Br J Ophthalmol 2007;91:1011-1013 doi:10.1136/bjo.2006.112953
  • World view

Evolution of vision reducing cataract in skin smear positive lepromatous patients: does it have an inflammatory basis?

  1. Ebenezer Daniel1,
  2. P S S Sundar Rao2
  1. 1Schieffelin Leprosy Research and Training Centre, Vellore, India, and Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
  2. 2Research Resource Centre, The Leprosy Mission, New Delhi, India
  1. Correspondence to: Dr Ebenezer Daniel Division of Ocular Immunology, Department of Ophthalmology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1620 McElderry Street, Reed Hall, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; edaniel4{at}jhmi.edu
  • Accepted 1 February 2007
  • Published Online First 14 February 2007

Abstract

Aim: To describe the incidence and risk factors of vision reducing cataract in skin smear positive lepromatous patients.

Methods: Prospective longitudinal cohort study: 212 newly diagnosed lepromatous patients were followed during the two years of treatment with multidrug therapy and for a further five years, with biannual ocular examinations. Incidence of vision reducing (≤6/18) cataract was calculated as the number of patients with cataract per person year of cataract-free follow up among those who did not have cataract at baseline.

Results: Cataract was present in 27 (11%) of lepromatous patients at diagnosis. Forty nine patients (2.87%/person year (95% confidence interval (CI), 2.17% to 3.80%)) developed cataract during a total follow up period of 1704 person years; 45 of these were ≥41 years old and were followed for a total of 638 person years with an incident rate of 0.070 (95% CI, 0.0523 to 0.094). Stepwise multiple regression confirmed the association of age (per decade) (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.50 (95% CI, 1.82 to 2.78), p<0.001), clofazimine crystals on the cornea (HR = 49.92 (5.48 to 454.82), p = 0.001), grade 2 deformity in all limbs (HR = 3.17 (1.12 to 8.97), p = 0.029), and uveal inflammation (HR = 3.52 (1.42 to 8.67), p = 0.006). No significant association was found with oral steroids.

Conclusions: Cataract develops at the rate of 7%/person year in lepromatous patients over 40 years of age. It is associated with increasing age, subclinical intraocular inflammation, and grade 2 deformity.

Footnotes

  • Published Online First 14 February 2007

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