Third-generation optical coherence tomography findings in punctate retinal toxoplasmosis.

PURPOSE

To investigate optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings in patients with punctate retinal toxoplasmosis (PRT).

DESIGN

Observational case series.

SETTING

Tertiary ophthalmic referral center.

STUDY POPULATION

Four patients with PRT consecutively evaluated between July 2004 and June 2005.

OBSERVATION PROCEDURES

Clinical examination and OCT.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Morphologic features at baseline and changes within a 24-week follow-up interval.

RESULTS

Retinal layers were abnormally hyperreflective at the active lesion site and associated with some degree of retinal pigment epithelium-choriocapillaris/choroidal optical shadowing in all patients. The posterior hyaloid was thickened and focally detached (over the lesion). Additional findings include tractional maculopathy (n = 2) and diffuse macular edema (n = 1). During follow-up, focal choriocapillaris/choroidal relative hyperreflectivity was observed at the former lesion site, and posterior vitreous detachment progressed in all patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that OCT may enable identification of subtle morphologic features previously underappreciated in patients with PRT, which may provide new insights about the disease pathophysiologic mechanisms.