Tattoo-associated uveitis.

Authors

• Trucian A Ostheimer
• Bryn M Burkholder
• Theresa G Leung
• Nicholas J Butler
• James P Dunn
• Jennifer E Thorne

Publication/Presentation Date

9-1-2014

Abstract

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical presentation of uveitis with coincident onset of raised and indurated tattooed skin.

DESIGN: Case series.

METHODS: Seven consecutive patients were evaluated at a tertiary ophthalmologic facility with coincident uveitis and cutaneous tattoo induration over an 18-month period. All subjects underwent complete ophthalmic examination and a focused systemic medical evaluation including serologic testing and imaging studies. Two participants underwent biopsy of their tattoos. The patients' clinical courses and responses to treatment over a follow-up period of 1-20 months are reported (mean follow-up = 9 months). Main outcome measures included degree of intraocular inflammation, ocular complications, visual acuity, clinically observable tattooed skin changes, and biopsy results.

RESULTS: Five of 7 patients had bilateral nongranulomatous anterior uveitis: 4 with chronic and 1 with recurrent disease. The remaining 2 patients had bilateral chronic granulomatous panuveitis. Biopsies of raised and indurated tattoos were performed in 2 patients and demonstrated noncaseating granulomatous inflammation surrounding tattoo ink in the dermis. The skin changes resolved in all patients, with a faster response noted in those treated with high-dose oral prednisone for intraocular inflammation. Five patients subsequently experienced recurrent flares of intraocular inflammation in conjunction with the recurrence of raised and indurated tattoos.

CONCLUSIONS: These cases represent a subset of patients in whom skin tattooing may have incited an immune response leading to simultaneous inflammation of the eyes and tattooed skin.

Volume

158

Issue

3

First Page

637

Last Page

643

ISSN

1879-1891

Published In/Presented At

Ostheimer, T. A., Burkholder, B. M., Leung, T. G., Butler, N. J., Dunn, J. P., & Thorne, J. E. (2014). Tattoo-associated uveitis. American journal of ophthalmology, 158(3), 637–43.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2014.05.019

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

24875002

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article