Recurrent ocular toxoplasmosis in patients treated with systemic corticosteroids.
OBJECTIVE
The authors discuss a possible relationship between systematic corticosteroid use and reactivation of ocular toxoplasmosis.


METHODS
Patients were identified who developed foci of recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis while being treated with systemic corticosteroids. Case histories were reviewed retrospectively.


RESULTS
During a 10-year interval, three patients were identified at the University of California, Los Angeles, who had been receiving systemic corticosteroid therapy (dose range, 0.27-1.23 mg/kg/day) when they developed recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. Disease occurred at intervals of 20 days to approximately 1 year after start of corticosteroid therapy. Lesions were typical in appearance, course, and manner in which they responded to antimicrobial therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Recurrent toxoplasmosis in patients receiving corticosteroid therapy probably is uncommon. These cases do not confirm a causal relationship between corticosteroid use and initiation of disease recurrence.
UCLA Ocular Inflammatory Disease Center, Jules Stein Eye Institute 90095-7003, USA.
P J
PJ
Morhun
J M
JM
Weisz
S J
SJ
Elias
G N
GN
Holland
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D013411:Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000931:Antidotes; D013411:Sulfadiazine; D011239:Prednisolone; D002955:Leucovorin; D011739:Pyrimethamine