relation between toxoplasmosis and pityriasis lichenoides chronica

The aim of this work was to find out if there is a relationship between toxoplasmosis and PLC. 22 patients [17 males and 5 females] diagnosed clinically and histopathologically as PLC were chosen for this study. Also, 20 apparently healthy individuals free from skin lesions were included as a control group. Patients and controls were examined clinically for signs of toxoplasmosis and submitted for indirect hemagglutination [IHA] and indirect immunofluorescent antibody [IFA] tests in the Parasitology Laboratory for serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in eight and three in PLC patients and controls, respectively, by both tests. Using pyrimethamine and trisulfapyrimidine in treating PLC patients showed subsidence of skin lesions in 5 patients with toxoplasmosis within 2 months from the beginning of therapy. The remaining patients showed no response to treatment. In conclusion, toxoplasmosis appears to play a role in the etiology of PLC and serological tests for diagnosing toxoplasmosis should be performed in all PLC patients