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Review
. 2003 Nov;78(11):1409-11.
doi: 10.4065/78.11.1409.

Ocular ethambutol toxicity

Alex Melamud  1 , Gregory S Kosmorsky, Michael S Lee
Affiliations
Review

Ocular ethambutol toxicity

Alex Melamud et al. Mayo Clin Proc. 2003 Nov.

Abstract

Ethambutol is an antimicrobial agent used frequently to treat tuberculosis. The most commonly recognized toxic effect of ethambutol is optic neuropathy, which generally is considered uncommon and reversible in medical literature. We describe a 43-year-old man who developed signs and symptoms of bilateral optic neuropathy during treatment with ethambutol. This case and a review of the literature show the severe and unpredictable nature of ethambutol toxicity and its potential for irreversible vision loss despite careful ophthalmologic monitoring.

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Comment in

  • Ocular ethambutol toxicity.
    Herchline TE. Herchline TE. Mayo Clin Proc. 2004 May;79(5):701; author reply 701, 703. doi: 10.1016/S0025-6196(11)62308-2. Mayo Clin Proc. 2004. PMID: 15132421 No abstract available.