Medical management of ocular malakoplakia

Ophthalmology. 1992 Feb;99(2):192-6. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(92)31993-1.

Abstract

A 14-year-old girl had a granulomatous conjunctival lesion, proven histologically to be malakoplakia. This is the first reported case of malakoplakia arising from conjunctiva, although three others have involved the ocular adnexa. Malakoplakia is a rare disease often associated with immunodeficiency and is characterized by the presence of intracellular inclusions and organisms due to deficient intracellular bacteriolysis. Medical management is difficult because an effective antibacterial agent requires three properties: activity against the organism involved, good intracellular penetration, and the capacity to maintain its effectiveness in the intracellular milieu. Escherichia coli was isolated from a biopsy specimen and from conjunctival swabs. Treatment with systemic ciprofloxacin, which has good intracellular penetration and activity, led to rapid resolution of the lesion. This is the first report concerning the successful use of this drug to treat malakoplakia of any organ.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Ciprofloxacin / therapeutic use*
  • Conjunctival Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Conjunctival Diseases / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli / isolation & purification
  • Escherichia coli Infections / drug therapy
  • Eye Infections, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Malacoplakia / drug therapy*
  • Malacoplakia / microbiology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Ciprofloxacin