Haemorrhagic toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis: description of an unusual clinical presentation
- Clinique d’Ophtalmologie, Hôf.pitaux Universitaires de Genéve, Rue Alcide-Jentzer, 22-CH, 05 Geneva, Switzerland
- Correspondence to: Edoardo Baglivo, MD, Clinique d’Ophtalmologie, rue Alcide-Jentzer, 22, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland; Edoardo.Baglivo{at}hcuge.ch
- Accepted 2 January 2003
Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (TRC) is an infectious disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. This infection affects many organs including the eyes. Most of the time ocular involvement occurs after a transplacental transmission, throughout pregnancy, but the infection can also be acquired. In immunocompetent patients, TRC is the most common cause of infection affecting the posterior segment. Clinically, the lesion appears as a white focal necrosis involving the full thickness of the retina, at the margin of an old pigmented chorioretinal scar. A vitreous inflammation is usually present and occasionally vasculitis is observed.1
We report the case of a healthy patient who developed a unilateral haemorrhagic retinochoroiditis (RC). The investigations performed were positive for a TRC.
Case report
A 45 year old African man was referred with a 10 day history of a painless progressive visual loss affecting the left eye. No other ophthalmological or systemic complaints were present. His past medical history was unremarkable.
Ophthalmological examination disclosed a vision of 20/20 in the right eye without correction and in the left …
