[Prevalence, morphology and therapy of toxoplasmosis chorioretinitis in AIDS]

Toxoplasmosis-retinochorioiditis is the second most frequent opportunistic infection of the eye among our series of AIDS patients. Between 1985 and 1990 we diagnosed 7 cases in 261 AIDS patients (Walter Reed classification 6); prevalence = 2.7%). The incidence has been increasing over the years. In four cases, toxoplasmosis was restricted to the eye, in three cases, ocular disease occurred combined with toxoplasmosis of the central nervous system. Since serological findings are not very reliable in AIDS-patients, the most important element in the differential diagnosis against retinitis of different etiology is ophthalmoscopy. There are a number of findings which allow differentiation of toxoplasmosis from other forms of retinitis, especially cytomegalovirus retinitis. Toxoplasmosis-retinitis was stopped in all cases by administering a specific therapy of pyrimethamine combined with clindamycin, a sulfonamide or spiramycin. Stable scar formation was achieved after 2-3 weeks therapy. Subsequent maintenance therapy with Fansidar (pyrimethamine + sulfadoxine) protected 4/4 patients from a relapse, while maintenance therapy with pyrimethamine alone allowed a relapse in 1/2 patients.