Chonnam Med J.  2006 Apr;42(1):53-56.

A Case of Optic Neuropathy Associated with Ethambutol

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Yeosu Jeonnam Hospital, Yeosu, Korea. jyc95@dreamwiz.com
  • 2Department of Neurology, Yeosu Jeonnam Hospital, Yeosu, Korea.
  • 3Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yeosu Jeonnam Hospital, Yeosu, Korea.

Abstract

Ethambutol is a commonly used first-line antituberculous agent. Although rare, ocular toxicity in the form of optic neuropathy has been well documented since its first use in the 1960s. Symptoms of ocular toxicity typically develop several months after the initiation of therapy, but rapid-onset optic neuropathy has also been reported. The risk of optic neuropathy depends on the dose and duration of therapy. The optic neuropathy with associated visual impairment is usually reversible, but recovery may take 6 months or longer (We describe a 43-year-old man who developed optic neuropathy after 30 days of ethambutol treatment. 6 months after ethambutol withdrawal, visual impairment was improved). We report this case with a brief review of relevant literatures.

Keyword

Ethambutol; Optic neuropathy

MeSH Terms

Adult
Ethambutol*
Humans
Optic Nerve Diseases*
Vision Disorders
Ethambutol
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