Introduction
Bilateral acute depigmentation of the iris (BADI) and bilateral acute iris transillumination (BAIT) are conditions within the spectrum of the same entity. In the literature, the first case was reported in 2004 [
1], but BADI and BAIT were initially described as new separate entities in 2005 by Tugal-Tutkun et al. [
2]. In recent years, interest in the disease has risen, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, although the etiopathogenesis remains unclear. The majority of the reported cases are associated with recent use of fluoroquinolones or respiratory tract infections, mostly caused by SARS-CoV-2. Clinical findings suggestive of the disease include ciliary injection, near complete iris transillumination, pigment dispersion in the anterior chamber, pigment accumulation in the trabecular meshwork, irregular pupil margins, and occasionally, elevated intraocular pressure. The differential diagnosis, which includes herpetic iridocyclitis, acute uveitis, and pigment dispersion syndrome, can often be challenging and requires a thorough medical history, ophthalmic examination, and laboratory workup.
The aim of this article is to report a case series of five female patients who presented with symptoms suggestive of BAIT following the intake of systemic moxifloxacin, in order to contribute to the existing literature on this rare, newly recognized condition. Unlike other similar reports, two of the patients had light blue iris color. These five cases presenting in Greece enhance the typical geographical distribution, contributing to a higher suspicion of this condition. We hypothesized that the prevalence of BAIT in the Greek population is higher than expected and this disease is underdiagnosed, due to the lack of adequate reports in the literature.
Discussion
BAIT and BADI have primarily been described in Türkiye [
3] and Europe, although there are known cases in India [
4], Brazil [
5], and the USA [
6]. In Greece, there are a few cases reported. More specifically, according to the existing literature, only 17 Greek patients have presented with symptoms indicating these conditions [
7,
8]. Therefore, this paper contributes with five more cases native in Greece. As long as etiology remains unclear, composition of epidemiological maps could be essential.
Recently, after the COVID-19 era, BAIT has come to the forefront, with increasing case reports suggesting this diagnosis [
8‐
12]. Before the pandemic, the entity was poorly described, and for this reason, it is possible that it escaped identification by not being included in the differential diagnosis. The escalating prevalence could be related to the wide use of fluoroquinolones, commonly prescribed for treating complications of respiratory tract infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. Another explanation could be that COVID-19 infection itself constitutes the causative factor of the depigmentation, and BAIT could be an ocular manifestation of this multisystem disease. However, the exact mechanism for this hypothesis remains unclear.
The etiopathogenesis of BAIT and BADI has not yet been defined. According to the literature, the initiation of symptoms usually follows a respiratory infection or fluoroquinolone intake [
3]. In rare cases, the incidents were described as spontaneous [
13‐
15] or have been attributed to exposure to insecticide spray [
16] and pitcher plant extract injections [
17]. The role of fluoroquinolones as causative factor is further supported by the reference of unilateral BAIT-like cases after intracameral moxifloxacin injection [
18‐
20]. It could reasonably be assumed that the entity has a genetic predisposition, since it has a strong sex preference and it adopts a quite defined geographical distribution. This suggestion is reinforced by a simultaneous onset of BADI in two siblings, reported in 2018 [
21]. All cases described herein are associated with moxifloxacin administration after respiratory tract infection. However, none of them tested positive for COVID-19 infection. They are all Caucasian females, residents of southern Greece, following the already described geographic pattern [
3], and probably share some common genes.
It is crucial that further studies be conducted in order to investigate the exact mechanism and possibly to identify specific mutations that lead to BAIT predisposition. A potential starting point could be genetic mutations that are known to cause iris diseases and pigment dispersion. If this hypothesis is confirmed, a specific part of the population could avoid fluoroquinolone use in favor of alternative antibiotic treatments. A multicenter genetic analysis of Turkish and Greek populations would be of great interest in the elucidation of the predisposition pattern.
It seems challenging to distinguish between BAIT and BADI cases, as both conditions present with similar symptoms, such as photophobia, bilateral conjunctival hyperemia, and circulating pigment in the anterior chamber. In BADI, the iris stroma shows a diffuse or patchy depigmentation with clearly distinguishable margins, typically observed from the iris root to the collarette, sparing the peripupillary iris. There are no posterior synechiae or iris transillumination, as only the iris stroma is affected. Later, iris changes may be subtle or unnoticed, as re-pigmentation has been observed. Pupils are round or slightly irregular, with normal reactions. In contrast, BAIT is characterized by diffuse iris transillumination, indicating iris epithelial pigment loss, and irregularly mydriatic pupils that are poorly responsive or unresponsive to light, due to iris sphincter muscle atrophy. These features are not reversible and are in associated with persistent photophobia. Posterior synechiae may also develop. Elevated IOP can be present in both conditions, but tends to be higher and potentially become uncontrollable in BAIT. Compared to BADI, patients with BAIT exhibit more severe symptoms and signs [
3,
22].
Regarding our patients, all of them experienced similar symptoms that led them to seek medical advice. They mainly reported bilateral ocular pain and photophobia, combined with redness and blurred vision, although BCVA was not affected. In cases 3 and 4, the relatively decreased visual acuity was related to the presence of nuclear cataract, matching the patients’ age. After clinical evaluation, bilateral diffuse iris transillumination was observed, more severe in cases 3 and 5 and less severe in case 2. Additionally, pupil light reaction was abolished in cases 2 and 4 and poor in cases 3 and 5. These signs are indicators of iris epithelial involvement and atrophy of the iris sphincter muscle. The only case that developed posterior synechiae was case 1. We believe that all patients reported herein fit the clinical features of BAIT.
Concerning IOP, it was elevated only in the right eye of case 2, where the amount of pigment in the trabecular meshwork was excessive. The patient had no previous history of elevated IOP, and this episode was sufficiently controlled with the use of multiple anti-glaucoma eye drops. Drug independence was achieved 6 months later. Eventually no glaucomatous optic disc neuropathy, visual field, or OCT retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defects were developed. According to the existing literature, most cases of intraocular hypertension in BAIT are adequately treated with topical medication and fewer with oral anti-glaucoma agents [
23]. Occasionally, trabeculectomy with anti-metabolite is required, with safe and effective results long-term [
24]. Furthermore, other anti-glaucoma interventions have been proposed, such us selective laser trabeculoplasty [
25], gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy [
26], and trabeculotomy ab interno with the Trabectome [
27]. However, as all these approaches were anecdotal, they need to be further tested.
In order to reach BAIT diagnosis, other causes of painful red eyes and iris depigmentation should be ruled out. These diseases include episcleritis/scleritis, acute iridocyclitis, uveitis of viral origin (varicella-zoster virus [VZV], herpes simplex virus [HSV], or cytomegalovirus [CMV]), Fuch’s uveitis syndrome, angle-closure glaucoma, and pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS). Absence of inflammatory signs, such as keratic precipitates, bilaterality, heavy pigment deposition, lack of herpetic infection history, and rapid onset of diffuse iris depigmentation, are diagnostic clues to differentiate BAIT from viral uveitis. Features that rule out PDS are injection, severe photophobia, and absence of posterior iris bowing or typical patterns such as Scheie stripe, Zentmayer ring, or Krukenberg spindle. Additionally, PDS is presented with radial mid-peripheral iris transillumination, typically in young myopic males, while BAIT mostly affects female patients around 40 years of age [
28]. The main differential diagnostic characteristics are summarized in Table
1. In any case, a history of respiratory illness and/or fluoroquinolone use should raise suspicion of BADI or BAIT.
Table 1
Comparison of the typical features in BAIT, PDS, and viral uveitis
Age/sex | Middle-aged/female | Young/male | Middle-aged |
Medical history | Respiratory infection and/or fluoroquinolone intake | Exercise-induced episodes | Herpetic infection |
Acute onset | Yes | No | Yes |
Bilaterality | Yes | Yes | No |
Conjunctival injection | Yes | No | Yes |
Inflammatory signs | No | No | Yes |
Photophobia | Yes | No | Yes |
Iris transillumination | Diffuse | Spoke-like | Localized patchy |
Posterior iris bowing | No | Yes | No |
Gonioscopy | Dense pigment deposition | Dense pigment deposition, Sampaolesi line | No typical findings |
All of our cases were female patients, reported systemic moxifloxacin intake (two cases intravenously and three orally), and presented normal iris anatomy on anterior segment OCT along with characteristic diffuse iris transillumination. There were minimal signs of inflammation only in cases 1 and 2 with 0.5+ cells in the anterior chamber. The posterior segment appeared unremarkable in all of them, with the exception of an epiretinal membrane in the right macula in case 5. Three out of five cases were initially misdiagnosed as acute uveitis, indicating that detailed history-taking and ophthalmological examination and imaging are crucial in order to reach the diagnosis of BAIT. Indeed, the laboratory workup for uveitis came back negative in all of our patients. All five patients are monitored on a regular basis in the Uveitis Department, and none of them presented new symptoms. Iris atrophy remained stable, keeping up with the typical clinical course of BAIT.
Patients in almost all of the cases reported in the literature originally had brown eyes, and the depigmented areas caused a grayish discoloration. Interestingly, patients in case 3 and case 5 initially had light blue eyes. Although BCVA is well preserved, persistent photophobia, due to iris transillumination and fixed mydriatic pupils, remained in all cases and has had a negative impact on the daily activities of the patients. Standard clinical assessments may underestimate the severity of light sensitivity, which can lead to significant visual impairment and reduce the quality of life.
One of the limitations of this study is that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for herpesviruses in aqueous humor samples was not performed due to the unwillingness of the patients. Although PCR testing was essential in order to exclude herpetic or other viral causes of anterior uveitis, our definitive diagnosis was mostly clinical, based on patients’ history and clinical findings. Additionally, every patient was monitored for a period of 1 year with no recurrence of their ocular symptoms or any change in their condition.