Toxoplasma Uveitis in a Patient with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abstract

In this paper, a posterior uveitis case was reported in a patient who was being followed and under treatment for Ankylosing Spondylitis. Toxoplasma antibodies were investigated and anti-toxoplasma IgG was positive. Systematic treatment (Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim and Clindamycin) was started. Despite medical treatment, reduction in visual acuity and development of dense membranous condensation in vitreous occurred. Surgical vitrectomy was performed. When posterior uveitis develops in patients who undergo immunosuppressive treatment, toxoplasma is among the first infectious agents that we should consider. A delay in diagnosis and treatment may result in failure in obtaining the desired outcome from medical treatment and a shift to surgical treatment.

Seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in patients receiving cancer treatment

“…Toxoplasmosis was stated to cause infectious necrotizing retinitis and constitute approximately 30-50% of posterior uveitis. Pregnancy, decrease in the immune resistance, physical and emotional stress were considered to be the triggers of the reactivation of the disease, and the reason for the activation of toxoplasmic retinitis in patients was considered to be steroid and other immunosuppressive drugs used for AS disease 19 .…”

“…This protozoon was considered to increase the potential risk of tumorigenesis before, and the seroprevalence of T. gondii and death rates from the brain cancer were determined to have a positive correlation in adult groups aged 55 and older, and this effect was stated to be strong especially in males 18 . Deveci et al (2013) examined the posterior uveitis picture developing in a patient monitored with the ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis and receiving immunosuppressive treatment. Toxoplasma antibodies were investigated and Toxoplasma IgG was positive in the patient.…”