TY - JOUR T1 - The utility of routine tuberculosis screening in county hospital patients with uveitis JF - British Journal of Ophthalmology JO - Br J Ophthalmol SP - 1091 LP - 1095 DO - 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-303937 VL - 98 IS - 8 AU - Bryan Kun Hong AU - Hossein Nazari Khanamiri AU - Simon R Bababeygy AU - Narsing A Rao Y1 - 2014/08/01 UR - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/98/8/1091.abstract N2 - Background/aim To evaluate the utility of tuberculosis (TB) screening in diagnosing ocular TB in uveitis patients in a government-funded hospital. Methods The charts of 142 consecutive patients seen during August 2011–July 2012 at the Los Angeles County Hospital uveitis clinic were reviewed for manifestation/laterality of uveitis, purified protein derivative (PPD) test results, interferon γ release assay, chest x-ray, birthplace, treatment history and diagnosis. ‘Presumed TB-uveitis’ was diagnosed when patients had positive TB screening and favourable response to anti-TB therapy, and definite ocular TB when Mycobacterium tuberculosis’ presence was demonstrated. Post-test probabilities were determined. Results TB screening was positive in 21.1%. Six patients were diagnosed with TB-related uveitis: one definite, four presumed and one systemic TB with uveitis. With regard to PPD positivity, being foreign-born was the only statistically significant factor with OR of 2.26 (95% CI 1.01 to 5.13; p<0.01) if born in Mexico and 4.90 (95% CI 1.74 to 13.83; p<0.01) if born in other foreign countries. The post-test probabilities of a positive PPD in a uveitis patient showed a 17.2% (overall) or 30.3% (foreign-born patients) chance of ocular TB. Conclusions PPD skin test plays an important role in the diagnosis of TB-associated uveitis in high-risk groups, such as immigrants from TB endemic regions. ER -