Contributions of immunoblotting, real-time PCR, and the Goldmann-Witmer coefficient to diagnosis of atypical toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.

ABSTRACT: Ocular toxoplasmosis is a major cause of posterior uveitis worldwide. The diagnosis is based mainly on ophthalmological examination. Biological diagnosis is necessary in atypical cases, and this requires aqueous humor sampling by anterior chamber paracentesis. We evaluated real-time PCR targeting the Toxoplasma gondii 529-bp repeat element, the Goldmann-Witmer coefficient (GWC), and immunoblotting for the diagnosis of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis in 54 patients with atypical uveitis. The results of these biological tests, applied to paired aqueous humor-serum samples, were compared to the clinical findings. Combining either PCR or the GWC with immunoblotting increased the sensitivity to 73% or 70%, respectively. Together, PCR and the GWC had 80% sensitivity. If feasible, sensitivity can b

SUBMITTER: Talabani H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2708527 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature