PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Aniki Rothova
AU  - Lotje E H Bosch-Driessen
AU  - Ninette H van Loon
AU  - W Frits Treffers
TI  - Azithromycin for ocular toxoplasmosis
AID  - 10.1136/bjo.82.11.1306
DP  - 1998 Nov 01
TA  - British Journal of Ophthalmology
PG  - 1306--1308
VI  - 82
IP  - 11
4099  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/82/11/1306.short
4100  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/82/11/1306.full
SO  - Br J Ophthalmol1998 Nov 01; 82
AB  - AIMS To investigate the efficacy of azithromycin in patients with ocular toxoplasmosis. METHODS 11 immunocompetent patients with ocular toxoplasmosis were treated with azithromycin (500 mg the first day, followed by 250 mg/day for 5 weeks). Ocular and systemic examinations were performed during active retinitis episodes and all patients were followed for at least 1 year. RESULTS The intraocular inflammation disappeared within 4 weeks in seven patients, including two cases with progressive retinitis despite previous treatment with pyrimethamine, sulphadiazine, and folinic acid. Recurrence of retinitis occurred in three patients (27%) within the first year of follow up. No systemic side effects of azithromycin were encountered. CONCLUSION These results indicate that although azithromycin cannot prevent recurrent disease it may be an effective alternative for patients with ocular toxoplasmosis who cannot tolerate standard therapies.