Optic nerve involvement in ocular toxoplasmosis: 12 year data from a tertiary referral center in Turkey / Acometimento de nervo óptico na toxoplasmose ocular: um relato de 12 anos de um centro de referência terciário na Turquia

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and types of optic nerve involvement in patients with ocular toxoplasmosis. Methods: For this retrospective cross-sectional study, we examined all patients with active ocular toxoplasmosis referred to our Uveitis Section during the last 12 years, and we included patients with optic nerve involvement in the study. The primary outcome was the prevalence of optic nerve involvement, and secondary outcomes included the types of optic nerve involvement and the final best-corrected visual acuity after treatment. Results: The prevalence of optic nerve involvement was 14.4%, with the leading cause being the activation of a juxtapapillary lesion (70.5%). We found papillitis in two eyes and neuroretinitis in two eyes (11.7% for each). We only detected one optic nerve involvement secondary to a distant active lesion (5.8%). Sixteen patients (94.1%) had unilateral ocular toxoplasmosis. The overall final best-corrected visual acuity after treatment was 10/10 (LogMAR = 0.0) excluding the three patients with a juxtapapillary scar involving the macula. Conclusions: Optic nerve involvement was common in patients with ocular toxoplasmosis. The main type of optic nerve involvement was caused by activation of an old juxtapapillary lesion. Treatment was quickly effective, but the best-corrected visual acuity was dependent on the presence of a scar in the papillomacular bundle.

RESUMO Objetivos: Avaliar a prevalência, características clínicas e tipos de acometimento do nervo óptico em pacientes com toxoplasmose ocular. Métodos: Para este estudo retrospectivo transversal, examinamos todos os pacientes com toxoplasmose ocular ativa encaminhados ao nosso Setor de Uveíte nos últimos 12 anos, e incluímos pacientes com comprometimento do nervo óptico no estudo. O resultado primário foi a prevalência do envolvimento do nervo óptico, e os resultados secundários incluíram os tipos de envolvimento do nervo óptico e a acuidade visual final melhor corrigida após o tratamento. Resultados: A prevalência de acometimento do nervo óptico foi 14,4%, sendo a principal causa a ativação de uma lesão justapapilar (70,5%). Encontramos papilite em dois olhos e neuroretinite em dois olhos (11,7% para cada um). Apenas detectamos um comprometimento do nervo óptico secundário a uma lesão ativa distante (5,8%). Dezesseis pacientes (94,1%) apresentavam toxoplasmose ocular unilateral. A acuidade visual final com melhor correção após o tratamento foi 10/10 (LogMAR= 0,0) excluindo os três pacientes com uma cicatriz justapapilar envolvendo a mácula. Conclusões: O comprometimento do nervo óptico foi comum em pacientes com toxoplasmose ocular. O principal tipo de comprometimento do nervo óptico foi causado pela ativação de uma lesão justapapilar antiga. O tratamento foi rapidamente eficaz, mas a acuidade visual final com melhor correção foi dependente da presença de uma cicatriz no feixe papilomacular.

Toxoplasmosis ocular. Descripción de tres pacientes con presentación atípica / Ocular toxoplasmosis. Description of three patients with an atypical presentation.

Objetivo: Describir una forma de presentación atípica de toxoplasmosis ocular, enfatizando la importancia de la jerarquización de los hallazgos clínicos y las limitaciones de la serología para realizar un diagnóstico temprano. Pacientes y Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo y descriptivo de tres casos clínicos de toxoplasmosis ocular activa, con presentación atípica (compromiso del nervio óptico), derivados al Servicio de Oftalmología del Hospital J. P. Garrahan en el periodo comprendido entre 2007 y 2010. Resultados: En los tres casos presentados la sospecha clínica de toxoplasmosis ocular no se correlacionó con evidencia serológica de infección reciente. En un caso, la terapéutica específica temprana, basada en la sospecha clínica, resultó en una excelente recuperación funcional. Un tratamiento tardío puede interferir en el resultado visual. Conclusiones: Basados en los hallazgos clínicos y la alta sospecha de esta patología debe iniciarse el tratamiento específico sin esperar que los resultados serológicos la confirmen. Eventualmente, la mejoría clínica confirmara el diagnóstico. El comportamiento de los títulos de anticuerpos en el curso de la enfermedad ocular no siempre es confiable, y en muchos casos retrasa el comienzo de la terapéutica con la consiguiente mala rehabilitación visual de estos pacientes (AU)

Objective: To describe an atypical presentation of ocular toxoplasmosis, emphasizing the importance of clinical findings and the limitations of serology in the early diagnosis. Patients and Methods: A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted of three cases with active ocular toxoplasmosis with an atypical presentation (optic nerve involvement), referred to the Department of Ophthalmology of Hospital J. P. Garrahan between 2007 and 2010. Results: In the three cases presented here clinical suspicion of ocular toxoplasmosis did not correlate with serological evidence of a recent infection. In one case, early treatment, based on clinical suspicion, resulted in excellent functional recovery. Late management may compromise visual outcome. Conclusions: Based on clinical findings and suspicion of the pathology, specific treatment should be started without waiting for serological confirmation. Eventually, clinical improvement will confirm the diagnosis. The behavior of antibody titres in the course of the ocular disease is not always reliable and often delays treatment initiation with subsequent difficulties in the visual rehabilitation of these patients (AU)

Acute papillitis in young female with toxoplasmosis

Papillitis and complicating acute toxoplasma retinochoroiditis, are unusual and atypical features of toxoplasmosis. This report presents a female with unusual acute papillitis. This patient had an active toxoplasmic chorioretinitis lesion that appeared to involve the optic nerve head and a major blood vessel as well as central nervous systems [CNS]. Papillitis may be secondary to juxtapapillary retinitis [Jensen choroiditis]. Very rarely, the optic nerve head may be the primary site of involvement. This case report illustrates a rare presentation of acute papillitis in a young immunocompetent female