Current Practices in Ocular Toxoplasmosis: A Survey of Brazilian Uveitis Specialists.
OBJECTIVE
To describe treatment practices for ocular toxoplasmosis among members of the Brazilian Uveitis Society.


METHODS
An online questionnaire sent to specialists, between October 2014 and March 2015.


RESULTS
Most respondents (67.9%) treat all active cases. Most specialists consider visual acuity <20/200 (88.2%), severe vitreous inflammation (94.1%), and ocular disease during acquired infection (88.2%) as absolute indications for treatment. Systemic steroids are associated with anti-toxoplasmic therapy in most cases by 50.9% of the respondents. For immunocompetent individuals, 57.4% of the respondents chose trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Classical therapy (sulfadiazine/pyrimethamine) is preferred most for patients with central lesions (70.4%), immunosuppression (68.4%), acquired infection (70.4%), and atypical forms (74.1%). For patients with frequent relapses, 84.9% of the respondents preferred antibiotic prophylaxis.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment patterns of ocular toxoplasmosis are not uniform among Brazilian specialists. Most specialists treat all cases of active retinochoroiditis. Typical cases are more frequently treated with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. However, classical therapy is the regimen of choice when lesions are considered more severe.
a Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP , Department of Ophthalmology , São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
Fábio Barreto
FB
Morais
b Fundação Altino Ventura , Recife , Pernambuco , Brazil.
Tiago Eugênio Faria E
TEFE
Arantes
a Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP , Department of Ophthalmology , São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
Cristina
C
Muccioli
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009885:Ophthalmology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013038:Specialization; D013411:Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D013411:Sulfadiazine; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D011739:Pyrimethamine
Antibiotics; ocular toxoplasmosis; practices; specialists; survey; treatment; uveitis