title: Increased serum levels of CXCL8 chemokine in acute toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chemokines have been implicated in the control of leucocyte infiltration in uveitis and in modulating angiogenesis in several ocular conditions. Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is a common cause of posterior uveitis. This study aimed to evaluate the serum concentrations of CC and CXC chemokines in patients with acute toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of five chemokines (CCL2, CCL11, CXCL9, CXCL8 and CXCL10) were evaluated in the serum of patients with active toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (n = 55) and control subjects (n = 40). In a subset of patients (n = 18), a second measure of serum levels of chemokines was performed after the completion of oral treatment with pyrimethamine (25 mg/day), sulphadiazine (1 g, four times per day), folinic acid (7.5 mg/day) and prednisone (initial dose: 1 mg/kg/day) for approximately 30 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis, notably those presenting with vasculitis, had increased serum levels of CXCL8 (mean +/- standard error of the mean [SEM] 35.1 +/- 6.5 pg/ml) compared with control subjects (mean +/- SEM 16.0 +/- 2.3 pg/ml; p = 0.01). There were no differences between patients and controls in serum levels of the other chemokines measured. The size of ocular lesions correlated significantly with serum levels of CXCL8 and CXCL9. After treatment, there was a significant reduction in serum levels of CXCL8. Severity of vitreous opacities did not correlate with serum levels of these chemokines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest a role for CXCL8 in the inflammatory process of acute toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. Furthermore, CXCL8 may be a useful marker for patient follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto Martins
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: David Henrique
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Alinne Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Camargos da Costa
authors.forename: Mauro Martins
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Wesley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ribeiro Campos
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oréfice
authors.forename: Antônio Lúcio
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013411:Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000188:drug therapy; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000469:parasitology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D016209:Interleukin-8; D013411:Sulfadiazine; D002955:Leucovorin; D011241:Prednisone; D011739:Pyrimethamine