[Clinical characteristics of 64 individuals carrying active posterior presumptively toxoplasmic uveitis, in Pernambuco].

PURPOSE: To describe clinical characteristics of posterior active uveitis presumptively by Toxoplasma gondii (PAUPT) in patients with typical lesion. Tranversal study.

METHODS

Sixty-four patients with retinochoroiditis scatter and active satellite lesions examined in Pernambuco, Brazil. All were older than 10 years and immunocompetent. Gender, age, skin color, and residence were recorded. Previous uveitis, visual accuracy, intraocular pressure (IOP), and ocular examination were analyzed.

RESULTS

52% were males, most of them with white skin (68.8%). Mean age 29 years (+/-10.87). Eighty-four percent of the patients lived in the metropolitan area. 56.2% were having the first episode of uveitis. In the damaged eye, visual accuracy mean was 20/200, IOP mean 14.5 mmHg (+/-64). Hyperemia of the conjunctiva was observed in 29.7% of the patients and alterations of the cornea in 51.6%. There were cells in the aqueous humor in 62.7%. 6.2% had posterior synechiae. All had vitreous damage and 45.3% retinal vasculitis. In 42.2% of the patients, lesions were located in zone I of Holland and 90.6% had the size of one discus diameter or greater. Neuritis was observed in 28.2%. Uveitis was more frequent in the right eye (54.7%).

CONCLUSION

PAUPT affects young people and the main symptom was reduction of visual acuity. IOP mean was normal. Alterations of the vitreous were observed in all cases. Injuries were equal to one discus diameter or greater and located in zone I of Holland.