The effect of long-term intermittent trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole treatment on recurrences of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of long-term intermittent trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole treatment on recurrences of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.


METHODS
Prospective randomized open-labeled interventional clinical trial.


METHODS
A total of 124 patients with a history of recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis were randomized to treatment with one tablet of trimethoprim (160 mg)/sulfamethoxazole (800 mg) (Bactrim F; Roche Pharmaceuticals, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) every 3 days (61 patients) or to observation without treatment (63 patients) and were followed monthly for up to 20 consecutive months for clinical signs of disease recurrence. A recurrence was defined as a new focus of necrotizing retinochoroiditis with active inflammation either adjacent to or remote from preexisting retinochoroidal scars.


RESULTS
Recurrences developed in four (6.6%) treated patients and in 15 (23.8%) controls (P =.01). Treatment was discontinued prematurely in four patients because of mild drug reactions.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term intermittent treatment with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole can reduce the rate of recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.
Silveira
Claudio
C
Clínica Silveira, Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Belfort
Rubens
R
Muccioli
Cristina
C
Holland
Gary N
GN
Victora
Cesar G
CG
Horta
Bernardo L
BL
Yu
Fei
F
Nussenblatt
Robert B
RB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination