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[Ocular toxocariasis. Diagnostic and therapeutic options]
E Bertelmann1, K-H Velhagen, U Pleyer
1Augenklinik, Charité Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin. ebertelmann@gmx.de
Background:
The diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis can be difficult and the aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of ELISA testing of vitreous body fluid.
Patients And Methods:
We present five consecutively treated patients with ocular symptoms of toxocariasis, three of these patients presenting with epiretinal membranes and subretinal granulomas were vitrectomized. Vitreous and body fluid and serum were tested for toxocara antibodies by ELISA. Moreover vitreous body fluid of 10 patients with epiretinal membranes of other origins were examined by the same ELISA.
Results:
In all three operated patients toxocara antibodies were detected in the vitreous fluid but ELISA testing of serum samples was negative in two of the three patients. Visual acuity increased or remained stable in the operated patients. The ELISA test was negative in all vitreous fluid samples of the control group.
Conclusions:
ELISA testing of vitreous body fluid can prove the presence of toxocara infection when no systemic signs of infection are present and no antibodies are detectable in the serum. Well-timed vitrectomy is a suitable therapy for vitreo-retinal complications in ocular toxocariasis to improve prognosis and to confirm the diagnosis.