Retinal vasculitis and cystoid macular edema after body tattooing: a case report.

BACKGROUND

To report a case of retinal vasculitis occurring after the placement of permanent tattoos.

METHODS

A 21-year-old male was referred to our department with impairment of visual acuity. Permanent tattoos covered the head, body, arms and legs. The patient was examined with ophthalmoscopy, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography. Systemic medical and laboratory work-up were performed in order to exclude an infectious agent or an inflammatory disease. He had no history of intravenous drug abuse.

RESULTS

Our patient presented severe posterior uveitis associated with retinal vasculitis and cystoid macular edema. Laboratory tests ruled out all diseases causing vasculitis. HIV and B, C hepatitis tests were negative. Cystoid macular edema and vasculitis were resolved after immunosuppressive therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first description of a retinal vasculitis associated with cystoid macular edema in a completely healthy individual after the placement of permanent tattoos. A phagocytosis of tattoo pigments leading to their lysis is described in the literature as a mechanism causing vasculitis.