title: Ocular toxoplasmosis: evaluation of lacrimal-specific secretory IgA levels in both patients with active and inactive phases of the disease.
abstract: Ocular toxoplasmosis can result in recurrent uveitis. Studies have shown that a correlation between active ocular toxoplasmosis and the presence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii secretory IgA (SIgA) in tears. This study compares anti-T. gondii SIgA levels in patients' tears during the acute and inactive phases of toxoplasmic uveitis. Twenty-nine positive tear specific SIgA for T. gondii patients with acute toxoplasmic uveitis were selected and were followed-up for at least two years, when the anti-T. gondii SIgA tears levels were determined. Specific SIgA for T. gondii was negative in 22 patients (75.86%) and positive in seven patients (24.13%) of whom six (85.7%) were followed over three years. Average SIgA levels during the acute phase are 1.54 and decrease significantly to 0.72 (p = 0.0001) during the inactive phase of disease. Because anti-T. gondii SIgA in the tear is negative in 75.86% of patients after the acute phase of infection, T. gondii SIgA levels may be used as a complementary diagnostic marker for active ocular toxoplasmosis.
authors: Departamento de Oftalmologia, Laboratório de Imunopatologia Keizo Asami, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil, 50670-901. lflynch@hotlink.com.br
authors: Luiz Felipe
authors: LF
authors: Lynch
authors: Maria Isabel
authors: MI
authors: Lynch
authors: Rodrigo Santana do Nascimento
authors: RS
authors: Ferreira
authors: Mirelle Souza Leão
authors: MS
authors: Vasconcelos
authors: Narjara
authors: N
authors: Melo
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Ferreira
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Malagueño
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013666:Tears / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D015415:Biomarkers; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory