Clinical features of ocular toxocariasis in Japan

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Purpose: To characterize the clinical features of ocular toxocariasis and to describe the unique aspects of the disease in Japan. Methods: Thirty-six cases diagnosed as ocular toxocariasis at the uveitis clinic of Tokyo Medical University Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Thirty-six cases comprised 34 adults (average age: 39 ± 10 years) and two nine-year-old boys. All cases were classified into two clinical types: posterior pole type (13 cases) and peripheral type (23 cases). Visual acuity was maintained over 20/20 in 50% and less than 20/200 in 14% of the cases. The peripheral type had worse outcomes than the posterior pole type in all of the endpoints examined: final visual outcome, frequency of ocular complications, and effectiveness of vitreous surgery. Antibody titers in intraocular fluids led to a diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis in eight seronegative cases of 33 cases examined for antibodies in both serum and intraocular fluid samples. Conclusions: The peripheral type had a worse prognosis than the posterior pole type. However, in general, ocular toxocariasis resulted in fair visual outcomes. The antibody titer in intraocular fluid was helpful in the diagnosis.

This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit: