Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis in an Italian referral center.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical features of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT).


METHODS
Retrospective review of 3080 new patients with uveitis was performed to identify patients with active OT. The main outcome measures were ocular features and ocular complications.


RESULTS
Active OT was diagnosed in 88 patients (2.85% of all uveitis), 39 male (44.3%) and 49 female (55.7%), at an average age of 20.4+/-14.6 years, lower than in other types of uveitis (p<0.0001). Acquired OT diagnosis was possible in 4 cases (4.5%), while in the others a differentiation between acquired or congenital OT was impossible. Unilateral OT occurred in 76 patients (86.36%), with lesions located inside the vascular arcade in 64 of them (84.2%). Among bilateral cases (12 patients, 13.63%), at least one lesion was central in 9 (75%). Isolated peripheral lesions were observed in 12 out of 88 patients (13.6%). During an average follow-up of 70+/-73.5 months, OT recurrences appeared in 70 patients (79.54%). Mean interval between diagnosis and first relapse was 43.57+/-48.46 months, while it shortened between subsequent relapses (24.44+/-26.5 months; p=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Ocular toxoplasmosis is a highly recurrent disease, mainly unilateral, with an average age at onset lower than those observed in other types of uveitis. Time between relapses shortens significantly over time.
Dipartimento di Scienze Oftalmologiche, Servizio di Immunovirologia Oculare, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Roma - Italy. massimo.accorinti@tiscali.it
Massimo
M
Accorinti
Alice
A
Bruscolini
Maria Pia
MP
Pirraglia
Marco
M
Liverani
Claudio
C
Caggiano
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002825:Chorioretinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013997:Time Factors; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult