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- Title
Toxocariasis: critical analysis of serology in patients attending a public referral center for ophthalmology in Brazil.
- Authors
Rubinsky-Elefant, Guita; Yamamoto, Joyce H.; Hirata, Carlos E.; Prestes-Carneiro, Luiz E.
- Abstract
Purpose: To analyze the contribution of IgG anti- Toxocara antibodies in the diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis (OT) in serum samples of patients attending a public referral center for ophthalmology in Brazil and to determine the most frequent ocular signs and symptoms. Study design: This was a retrospective descriptive study of a cohort of outpatients followed from December 1989 to May 2006. Methods: IgG anti- Toxocara antibody titers were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were correlated with the clinical and funduscopic findings. Results: Of the diagnoses for the 126 patients, 42 were considered as probable OT, 48 as negative, and 36 as inconclusive. The median IgG anti- Toxocara antibody titers of the patients with probable OT were significantly higher than those of the patients in the negative or inconclusive groups ( P = 0.0001). Higher titers were observed more frequently in patients in the probable OT group ( P = 0.01) than in the negative group, in which titers were absent or lower in most patients ( P < 0.0001). The right eye was affected more in the OT group than in the negative group ( P = 0.01), and inflammation was located mostly in the intermediate and posterior poles. The mean age of the patients diagnosed with probable OT was significantly lower (mean, 8 years) than that of the negative patients (mean, 14.5 years) ( P = 0.006). Conclusions: Higher levels of antibodies could help with the diagnosis of OT in patients with symptoms and clinical signs; however, negative results cannot exclude possible OT. Conversely, patients with negative serology or low titers make the diagnosis of OT less likely.
- Subjects
TOXOCARIASIS; SEROLOGY; IMMUNOGLOBULIN G; TOXOCARA; OPHTHALMOLOGY; DIAGNOSIS
- Publication
Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology, 2018, Vol 62, Issue 1, p77
- ISSN
0021-5155
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10384-017-0543-8