[Treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis. Part 1: Basic principles and diagnosis]

Ocular toxoplasmosis is a frequent cause of ocular inflammation which threatens central visual acuity. New concepts of treatment are important alternatives for the well known therapy with pyrimethamine and sulphadiazine. They cause less side effects and result in better compliance. Up to know prospective randomized trials are still missing although they might prove the value of medical treatment in ocular toxoplasmosis. Nevertheless it is generally accepted that ocular toxoplasmosis should be treated when central visual function is threatened. Treatment strategy is influenced by general symptoms, especially in children and immunocompromised patients. In this paper opportunities for treatment are discussed. Relevant microbiological, immunological and epidemiological fundamentals are mentioned as well as serological tests.