Clinical Features and Prognosis in Ocular Toxoplasmosis: A Review of 15 Cases

Abstract

Ocular toxoplasmosis is one of the causes of severe visual loss in young people. We reviewed the records of 15 patients with ocular toxoplasmosis who were examined between 2003 and 2005. The diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis was established by detecting morphologically characteristic toxoplasmic fundus lesions in either eye by ophthalmologist. A positive serologic test for toxoplasmosis was used to support the diagnosis. All patients were treated. Our treatment protocol included the combination of primethamine and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol (TMP-SMX) or clindamicin and TMP-SMX or spiramycin and TMP-SMX with corticosteroid. Duration of treatment was average of four-six weeks. There were active lesions in 11 of the patients. There was also inflammation accompanied with chorioretinitis scars in four patients. Macular involvement were seen in three patients. Fourteen patients had unilateral and one had bilateral involvement. Retinochroidal lesions of 12 patient showed full regression. Relaps was seen in four patients. In conclusion, ocular toxoplasmosis seriously impairs vision acuity. Patients who have active choroidoretinitis of T. gondii should be treated and followed to avoid late compllications.

Keywords

• Toxoplasmosis
• Ocular
• Pyrimethamine
• Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole combination