Aims To evaluate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcome of patients with recurrent scleritis of unknown demonstrable aetiology and positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT). Methods Retrospective chart review of the demographic, clinical, laboratory and therapeutic outcome data of 15 patients. Clinical characteristics as well as remission rate after standard antituberculous therapy (ATT) were assessed. Results There were 9 men and 6 women with a mean age of 48.9 years (range, 32–73). Scleritis was diffuse in 10 patients (66.6%) and nodular in 5 patients (33.3%), 1 of them with concomitant posterior scleritis. It was bilateral in 7 patients (46.6%) and recurrent in all of them. Scleritis appeared after prior uveitis (10 patients, 66.6%) and/or with concomitant uveitis (5 patients, 33.3%) or peripheral keratitis (5 patients, 33.3%). Previous ocular surgery was found in 7 patients (46.6%). Previous extraocular tuberculosis (TB) infection or previous TB contact was detected in 11 patients (73.3%). No radiologic findings of active extraocular TB were detected. ATT was used in 15 patients, sometimes with the addition of systemic corticosteroids (5 patients) and methotrexate (1 patient); 14 patients achieved complete remission (93.3%). Conclusion Presumed TB-related scleritis may appear in recurrent scleritis of unknown origin and positive QFT. It may occur after prior uveitis and/or concomitantly with uveitis or peripheral keratitis, and it may be triggered by previous ocular surgery. No patients had evidence of concurrent active extraocular infection, although many had previous TB infection or TB contact. ATT was effective, sometimes with the addition of systemic corticosteroids and methotrexate. All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplemental information. All data relevant to the study are included in the article.

中文翻译：

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推测结核相关性巩膜炎

目的 评估病因不明且 QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube 试验 (QFT) 阳性的复发性巩膜炎患者的临床特征和治疗结果。方法 对 15 名患者的人口统计学、临床、实验室和治疗结果数据进行回顾性图表审查。评估标准抗结核治疗 (ATT) 后的临床特征和缓解率。结果 有 9 名男性和 6 名女性，平均年龄为 48.9 岁（范围 32-73 岁）。巩膜炎在 10 名患者 (66.6%) 中呈弥漫性，在 5 名患者 (33.3%) 中呈结节性，其中 1 名患者伴有后部巩膜炎。7 例患者 (46.6%) 为双侧性，均复发。巩膜炎出现在既往葡萄膜炎（10 名患者，66.6%）和/或伴随葡萄膜炎（5 名患者，33.3%）或周围角膜炎（5 名患者，33. 3%)。7 名患者 (46.6%) 曾接受过眼科手术。在 11 名患者 (73.3%) 中检测到先前的眼外结核 (TB) 感染或先前的结核接触。没有检测到活动性眼外结核的放射学发现。15 名患者使用 ATT，有时加用全身性皮质类固醇（5 名患者）和甲氨蝶呤（1 名患者）；14 例患者达到完全缓解（93.3%）。结论 原因不明的复发性巩膜炎和QFT阳性可能出现疑似结核性巩膜炎。它可能发生在先前的葡萄膜炎之后和/或伴随葡萄膜炎或周围角膜炎，并且可能由先前的眼部手术引发。没有患者有并发活动性眼外感染的证据，尽管许多患者之前有结核感染或结核接触。ATT是有效的，有时加用全身性皮质类固醇和甲氨蝶呤。与研究相关的所有数据都包含在文章中或作为补充信息上传。与研究相关的所有数据都包含在文章中。