[Retinochoroiditis as a diagnostic indication of acute systemic toxoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient].

METHODS

In February 1993 a 53-year-old immunocompetent man presented at our department with blurred vision on the right eye for 6 weeks. Following a journey to Guatemala in November 1992 he had developed undulating fever up to 40 degrees C (later subfebrile temperature) with loss of weight (15 kg), dysesthesia mainly in the feet and general weakness. He was hospitalized at a general hospital and treated with different antibiotics. Various examinations showed normal results, like cranial computer tomography, and serological tests for virus, bacteria or malaria. Only the transaminases and the borrelia serology (IgG: 1:80, IgM:neg.) were slightly elevated, and the abdominal sonography revealed a moderate hepatomegaly. OPHTHALMOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Visual acuity was 1.0 in both eyes. The right eye showed fatty retrocorneal precipitates, cellular infiltration of the anterior chamber and vitreous and a focal retinochoroiditis next to the superior temporal vessels (Fig. 1a), with corresponding defect in visual field and nerve fiber layer (Fig. 1b, c). Serology established the diagnosis of an acute generalized toxoplasmosis (IgM ISAGA i.S.: 1:1,600; IgM-AK IFT i.S.: 1:128, KBR i.S.: 1:320).

METHODS

After adequate chemotherapy ocular symptoms and dysesthesia improved rapidly. The temperature stayed low and the liver parameters returned to normal.

CONCLUSIONS

The ophthalmoscopic finding of an acute focal retinochoroiditis played an important role for the diagnosis of an acute generalized toxoplasmosis in a patient with fever of unknown origin. Ocular manifestation is rare in acute generalized toxoplasmosis.