We performed a prospective multicentre study to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic strategies currently used for ocular toxoplasmosis in a large number of patients (n = 106). Treatment was given for at least four weeks and consisted of three triple drug combinations: group 1, pyrimethamine, sulphadiazine and corticosteroids (n = 29); group 2. clindamycin, sulphadiazine and corticosteroids (n = 37); and group 3. cotrimoxazole (trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole) and corticosteroids (n = 8). Patients with peripheral retinal lesions remained without systemic therapy (group 4, n = 32). Patients from group 1 received leucovorin 5 mg twice a week. No difference in the duration of inflammatory activity was observed between the treated and untreated patients or between the separate groups of patients. The most important factor predicting the duration of inflammatory activity was the size of the retinal focus itself, independently of the therapy given (P less than 0.05). We showed a reduction in size of the retinal inflammatory focus in 52% of the pyrimethamine patients as compared to 25% of untreated cases. However the most frequent side effects were also associated with pyrimethamine medication and included hematologic complications as thrombocytopenia and leucopenia despite leucovorin medication.

No abstract

No abstract

Clinicians should be alert for early skin lesions within the complete nasociliary dermatome, because they are a reliable prognostic sign of sight-threatening ocular complications in acute herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

No abstract

No abstract

Aim-To find a laboratory indicator for systemic involvement in intermediate uveitis. Conclusions-Elevated IL-8 serum levels were found in patients with active intermediate uveitis of unknown origin. An elevated IL-8 level seems to predispose the patient to a later development of associated systemic disease. (Br J Ophthalmol 1998;82:871-874) Intermediate uveitis is an inflammation in the region of the posterior ciliary body, anterior retina, anterior choroid, and vitreous. It is characterised by cells and debris in the vitreous, snowbank formation along the pars plana, varying degrees of periphlebitis, and a relatively quiet anterior chamber. It generally occurs bilaterally and usually aVects young patients although it can also be seen later in life. The course of intermediate uveitis is variable, ranging from a self limited process to chronic disease with remissions and exacerbations. It can result in severe complications including cystoid macular oedema (CMO), epiretinal membrane formation, cataract, neovascularisation, vitreous haemorrhage, and retinal detachment. Methods-Interleukin

In a randomised double-masked study of