Article
Evidence-based knowledge on ocular toxoplasmosis
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Published: | September 22, 2004 |
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Outline
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Objective
Toxoplasmosis remains the most frequent cause of retinochoroiditis in the western world with potential severe functional consequences. Although the diagnosis is primarily made on clinical ground, it may present atypically in particular in older and immunocompromised individuals. Furthermore, there is still no consensus regarding the choice of antimicrobial agents for treatment regimens. Treatment commonly consists of various combinations of antibiotic drugs; the most common agents used are pyrimethamine, clindamycin and sulfonamides.
Methods
We performed a literature search based on Medline, PubMed and Cochrane controlled trials to identify relevant publications on ocular toxoplasmosis. In addition, a manual search was performed utilizing the reference list of the retrieved articles.
Results
We identified 468 potentially pertinent articles and reviewed yielded 26 studies for further analysis. No "gold standards" or strict guidelines could be established from the available literature. We found no evidence for a beneficial effect of antibiotics on the duration and severity of signs of acute ocular toxoplasmosis.
Conclusions
Although toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis has to be considered as a relatively well defined etiology of posterior uveitis, there is a lack of evidence to support the diagnosis in atypical presentations and treatment for toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.