MACULAR HOLE ASSOCIATED WITH TOXOPLASMOSIS: A SURGICAL CASE SERIES

PURPOSE

There are currently limited data addressing the surgical outcomes of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in toxoplasmosis-related macular hole (tMH). We aim to report and discuss safety and efficacy of PPV for tMH.

METHODS

Surgical case series (n = 11), with minimum postoperative follow-up time of 6 months. Consecutive patients who underwent PPV for tMH from 2013 to 2016 were included. Indications for surgery were: visual acuity ≥ 0.6 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (Snellen 20/80 or less), no intraocular inflammation for more than 6 months, extrafoveal toxoplasmosis scar, elevated tMH borders on optical coherence tomography, and patient agreement with surgery. Surgery was performed-PPV with epiretinal (if present) and internal limiting membrane peeling. Safety and efficacy of PPV for tMH were addressed by evaluating: 1) surgery-related complications and 2) visual acuity improvement.

RESULTS

A total of 11 patients (6 male), with a mean age of 33.2 ± 11.0 years were studied. Mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity significantly improved from 1.10 ± 0.24 (Snellen 20/252) to 0.43 ± 0.18 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (Snellen 20/54) at last follow-up visit (P < 0.01). The rate of visual acuity improvement (i.e., a gain of at least three lines) and tMH closure was 100% for both. The only reported surgery-related complication was cataract in one case.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that PPV is a safe and effective option in tMH cases. A controlled, longitudinal study would contribute to confirm these findings.

[Toxoplasmic chorioretinitis complicated by retinal detachment]

PURPOSE

To describe and analyse relationship between chorioretinal toxoplasmosis and retinal detachment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seven immunocompetent patients examined and treated between November 1992 and March 1996, with ocular toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis and retinal detachment.

RESULTS

Of the 7 patients examined, 5 had active retinochoroiditis and 2 had typical inactive scars. Of the patients with active focus 3 had giant retinal tears, one had a posterior retinal tear and one had a retinal tear located at the edge of an atrophic scar. Of the patients with inactive lesions, one had tractional retinal detachment and the other presented with a complete retinal detachment, multiples tears and PVR. Five patients were treated by corticosteroid without antitoxoplasmic drug before they were referred. The seven patients underwent endo-ocular surgery with silicon oil or long actic gas tamponade. Three patients developed PVR and redetachment of the retina and two patients underwent further surgery. Good anatomical result was obtained in 6 patients.

CONCLUSION

Retinal detachment associated with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is rare. However it represents a serious complication. Steroid administrated to salvage vision may then worsen the clinical course, these may be justified to reduce hypersensitivity to toxoplasma antigen, but they should be combined with an antimicrobial agent.

Laser photocoagulation around the foci of toxoplasma retinochoroiditis: a descriptive statistical analysis of 35 patients with long-term follow-up

Thirty-five patients with toxoplasma retinochoroiditis, receiving medical treatment and then treated with laser photocoagulation around the foci, were retrospectively evaluated for the risk of recurrence of the retinochoroiditis with a Kaplan-Meier representation. The recurrence rates with 95% symmetric confidence intervals were: at 1 year, 12.7 + or - 13%, at 2 years, 19.8 + or - 15%; at 3 years, 24.0 + or - 16%; at 4 years, 33.3 + or - 19%; at 5,6 and 7 years, 53.5 + or - 21%; at 8 and 9 years 66. 8 + or - 22%. With the data provided by our series, it is not possible to show the efficacy of laser photocoagulation as a prevention of recurrence in toxoplasma retinochoroiditis. Moreover, because of their heterogeneity, the recurrence rates from the literature cannot provide precise data for a comparison. Concerning the laser-induced thermal damage, the potential therapeutic mechanism of the laser procedure is discussed.

[Pars plana vitrectomy in uveitis]

A vitrectomy was performed in 30 eyes suffering from different forms of uveitis. An improvement of visual acuity was obtained in 29 cases and was explained by removal of vitreous haze and/or of the cataract, but not by the improvement of the inflammatory process.

[Laser therapy of ocular toxoplasmosis]

The authors present the results of treatment by laser coagulation of inflammatory retino-choroidal foci in 32 persons with ocular toxoplasmosis. The diagnosis of Toxoplasma etiology was set on a basis of positive immunological reaction for Toxoplasma gondii antigen and after exclusion of other etiological factors. Among 42 eyes stabilization of the process after 1 intervention was observed in 34, i.e. in 89 p.c. (period of observation--up to 4 years). In the following 8 eyes arised the necessity to perform additional coagulations because of formation of fresh foci which appeared in 5 eyes after 6 months, in 2 eyes after 1 year and in 1 eye after 2 years since onset. The authors consider the application of laser coagulation in ocular toxoplasmosis as a favourable method together--or independently--with pharmacological treatment.

Current practices in the management of ocular toxoplasmosis

To determine current practices in the management of ocular toxoplasmosis, 72 of 85 uveitis specialists (85%) in the American Uveitis Society completed a detailed questionnaire. Questions involved the indications for beginning treatment, choice of antiparasitic/antimicrobial agents, and experience with treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis in special situations including pregnancy, neonatal infections, and immunocompromised patients. Most of the respondents treat patients whose visual acuity had decreased to worse than 20/200, lesions located in the peripapillary, perifoveal, or maculopapillary bundle regions, and lesions associated with severe vitreous inflammation. Most would not treat patients who retained visual acuity of 20/20, lesions located in the far peripheral retina, or lesions associated with only trace to mild vitreous inflammation. Treatment of other combinations of factors remains controversial. Eight different antimicrobial drugs are used in various combinations for lesions threatening the macula or optic nerve head. Systemic corticosteroids are used by 59 of 62 respondents (95%) as part of their initial treatment regimen. The most commonly used regimens are pyrimethamine/sulfadiazine/corticosteroids (20 of 62 [32%]) and pyrimethamine/sulfadiazine/clindamycin/corticosteroids (17 of 62 [27%]). Adjunctive therapies (photocoagulation, cryotherapy, or vitrectomy) have been used by 20 of 60 respondents (33%). Most alter treatment during pregnancy, in newborn patients, and in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Laser treatment of toxoplasmosis

Medical treatment of toxoplasmosis may not be effective always, or toxicities may preclude further use of medications. In this situation, laser photocoagulation may be considered. Three cases of toxoplasmosis were treated with krypton/argon laser photocoagulation. One case required retreatment. All remained quiescent after treatment.

Endolaser photocoagulation of toxoplasmosis

Traditional medical treatment regimens for toxoplasmosis using such agents as sulfadiazine, clindamycin, pyrimethamine, and prednisone may not be effective always. Alternative methods of treatment such as diathermy and cryotherapy have been advocated. Photocoagulation has been used with some effect. In advanced cases vitreous opacification may preclude external photocoagulation technique. Two cases are presented in which vitrectomy and endolaser photocoagulation techniques were used. Endolaser treatment may be done in situations where vitreous opacification may preclude other methods.

[Vitrectomy in inflammatory diseases of the posterior segment of the eye]

Eight patients with chronic endogenous uveitis, chorioretinitis, toxoplasmosis and infective endophthalmitis underwent pars plana vitrectomy mainly to improve vision by clearing the media or removing membranes. Beyond this it turned out that in eyes with chronic endogenous uveitis vitrectomy might also alter or diminish the severity as well as the frequency of attacks. The role of the vitreous as an autoimmune agent is discussed.

[Argon laser coagulation in the treatment of active chorioretinitis (author's transl)]

Three cases of active chorioretinitis due to toxoplasmosis, which in the past had shown numerous recurrences, were subjected to argon laser coagulation after the preceding treatment with drugs had proved ineffective. Our procedure with the argon laser beam aimed not only at covering the entire area of the active chorioretinitis, but also at encircling and covering the old focus. In our case 2, in which in one phase of the condition argon laser coverage was confined merely to the active focus, there was a recurrence originating from another point of the same lesion. Argon laser coagulation appears to be effective, given the fact that no recurrence was observed after its application in any of our three cases over a follow-up period ranging from 2-4 years.

Photocoagulation of active toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis

Active, recurrent, protracted toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis that had been unresponsive to intensive medical therapy with pyrimethamine, sulfamethoxypyridazine, intramuscular folicic acid, or clindamycin and corticosteroids, was treated with photocoagulation in five eyes. Four eyes healed rapidly within a few weeks. In one patient's eye, lens and vitreous opacities prevented adequate treatment with the red III intensity level of the xenon are photocoagulator. Subsequent surgical diathermy and cryocoagulation resulted in prompt healing of the lesion. Noninvasive photocoagulation of active toxoplasmosis retinochoroiditis is recommended in protracted cases if the media are clear, the macula is threatened, or there are severe complications from systemic medications.