Incidence, risk factors and ophthalmic clinical characteristic of ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy: 7-year experience

BackgroundThe purpose of this research was to investigate the characteristics, clinical manifestations, incidence, and risk factors in ethambutol-induced optic neuropathy (EON) in the Thai population.MethodsPatients treated with ethambutol for tuberculosis (TB) were retrospectively identified in the medical record of a tertiary hospital in Thailand from January 2012 to August 2019. Development of EON was determined through review of ophthalmology records. Comparison was made between patients with EON and those without EON to identify possible risk factors. Ophthalmic outcomes were characterized.ResultsAmong 4,141 patients who received ethambutol for TB treatment, 1,062 had an ophthalmology encounter, and 20 (0.5% overall, 1.88% with ophthalmology encounters) developed EON. In unadjusted analysis, compared to patients without EON, those with EON had a similar daily dose, but longer duration of ethambutol treatment (P=0.02). They were older (mean 43.74 vs. 58.60 years, P=0.001), more likely to have hypertension (P=0.02) and smoke (p=0.01). There were no differences in gender, body mass index, diabetes, dyslipidemia, HIV infection or glomerular filtration rate. The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell analysis, and vascular density as measured using retinal optical coherence tomography were impacted by EON. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, age greater than 60 (OR = 8.71, p = 0.01) and smoking (OR = 7.06, p = 0.01) were independent risk factors for EON.ConclusionIn patients treated with ethambutol, the incidence proportion of EON was 0.5% among those with ethambutol administered and 1.88% among those with ethambutol and an eye visit. Potential EON risk factors were age, hypertension, smoking, and duration of ethambutol medication. Smoking has not been associated with EON in prior studies.