[Ocular toxoplasmosis antibodies in aqueous humor and serum].
BACKGROUND
The diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis is mainly based on ophthalmological examination but might be difficult to establish in some cases. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the value of aqueous humor and serum analysis in ocular toxoplasmosis.


METHODS
We analyzed the avidity of toxoplasma-specific IgG in aqueous humor and serum samples from 50 patients with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis, with 25 patients with uveitis posterior or panuveitis serving as controls.


RESULTS
Specific intraocular antibody synthesis could be confirmed in 49 patients (98%). In two patients (8%) of the control group, antibody synthesis was detected (false positive). Forty-nine patients with diagnoses of ocular toxoplasmosis were positive for serum anti-T. gondii IgG, but only three patients had increased IgM levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Analysis of local antibody production is a reliable method for confirming or excluding a suspected clinical diagnosis of toxoplasma retinochoroiditis. The determination of toxoplasma antibodies in the patients' serum is of limited value.
Torun
N
N
Medizinische Fakultät, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Liekfeld
A
A
Hartmann
C
C
Metzner
S
S
Pleyer
U
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000276:immunology*; D018916:Blood-Aqueous Barrier / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G