Tattoo-associated uveitis

A 19-year-old man with extensive body tattooing presented with recurrent episodes of reduced vision, bilateral photophobia and concomitant swelling of body tattoos. Systemic sarcoidosis, a rare disease in Asians, can occasionally cause tattoo granuloma and uveitis.1 Tattoo-associated uveitis without...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi 2021-06, Vol.27 (3), p.222.e1-222.e2
Main Authors: Mak, C Y, Ho, M, Chan, A Z, Iu, L P L, Cheung, C M T, Brelen, M E, Choi, P C L, Young, A L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biopsy
Granulomas
Hospitals
Humans
Sarcoidosis
Skin
Steroids
Tattooing - adverse effects
Tattoos
Uveitis - etiology
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Summary:A 19-year-old man with extensive body tattooing presented with recurrent episodes of reduced vision, bilateral photophobia and concomitant swelling of body tattoos. Systemic sarcoidosis, a rare disease in Asians, can occasionally cause tattoo granuloma and uveitis.1 Tattoo-associated uveitis without systemic sarcoidosis is a rare entity first described in a case series half a century ago.2 The disease is characterised by recurrent episodes of uveitis in conjunction with raised and indurated tattoo, while histology of affected skin demonstrates florid non-caseating granulomatous reaction indistinguishable from tattoo granuloma in systemic sarcoidosis.3 The exact pathogenesis is unknown, but it was believed to be a type of delayed hypersensitivity reaction to tattoo pigments.3 Treatment is mainly to control ocular inflammation by topical and systemic steroid, with or without steroid-sparing agent. CY Mak 1; Mary Ho 1; Angela Z Chan 2; Lawrence PL Iu 1; Christina MT Cheung 3; Marten E Brelen 1; Paul CL Choi 2; Alvin L Young 1 1 Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong 2 Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong 3 Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong
ISSN:1024-2708
2226-8707
DOI:10.12809/hkmj208638