ABSTRACT
Purpose: The purpose of this article is to analyze possible associations between systemic and ocular cytokine levels and specific clinical ophthalmologic signs from patients with a reactivation of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (RTR).
Methods: A total of 18 patients with an active RTR episode, 8 patients with inactive scars, and 14 control patients were included in the study. Serum samples and aqueous humor (AH) samples were analyzed for IFN (interferon)-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, and IL-6 levels by ELISA. Inflammation grade, location, and size of the retinochoroidal active lesion, sampling time, and time to resolution were recorded.
Results: A significantly negative correlation between AH and serum levels of IFN-γ was detected (p < 0.05). Patients with an AH IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio lower than 1 were associated with the longest time to resolution and/or severe complications.
Conclusion: Serum IFN-γ levels may be used as a prognostic marker for both time to resolution and the development of possible severe complications during a given RTR episode.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to Dr. Daniel Ajzenberg for his useful comments and to Ms. Victoria Illas for her revision of the English style of this manuscript to improve text readability.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.