Journal of Pharmacovigilance

Ethambutol induced optic neuritis leading to complete blindness, in a 20 year old woman under category -IV regimen for drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis

3^rd International Conference and Exhibition on Pharmacovigilance & Clinical Trials

October 27-29, 2014 Hyderabad International Convention Centre, India

Ashishkumar C Zala

Posters: J Pharmacovigilance

Abstract:

Unfortunately CAT-IV Anti-tubercular drugs have proved to be a double edged sword with many of the drugs having grave side effects, necessitating regular monitoring and frequent follow ups. Ethambutol is Bacteriostatic Anti-mycobacterial drug commonly prescribed to treat tuberculosis. The drug in CAT-IV regimen Ethambutol is particularly notorious for causing ocular toxicities which are classically described as reversible and irreversible visual changes. Here, we report a case of a young girl with Rifampicin resistant TB, started on CAT-IV regimen who developed Ethambutol induced bilateral optic neuritis causing progressive worsening of vision and eventually compete blindness with no improvement on her 6th month follow up despite early Ethambutol discontinuation. This prompted us to take more provocative and aggressive side effects monitoring strategy.

Biography :

Ashishkumar C Zala completed MD in Pharmacology in 2014 from Government Medical College, Surat, Gujarat, India. He has presented research paper in National conference and published three original research articles in national and international journals.