RESUMO
Using a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that included dissociation of antigen antibody complexes with 6M urea solution, we analyzed the avidity of Toxoplasma-specific IgG in aqueous humor and serum samples from 24 patients with toxoplasmic chorioretinitis. As a control, we studied aqueous humor and serum samples from 14 cataract patients without history of uveitis and serum samples from 10 patients with recent primary systemic toxoplasmic infection without ocular lesions. IgG avidity was markedly lower in aqueous humor samples from patients with toxoplasmic chorioretinitis than in serum samples, despite those samples presenting higher levels of Toxoplasma-specific IgG than in serum samples. The detection of the low-avidity Toxoplasma-specific antibodies can offer a valuable aid to make a specific etiologic diagnosis and perhaps contribute to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of ocular toxoplasmosis.
Assuntos
Afinidade de Anticorpos , Humor Aquoso/imunologia , Imunoglobulina G/análise , Toxoplasma/imunologia , Toxoplasmose Ocular/imunologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/análise , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/imunologia , Catarata/imunologia , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Humanos , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Imunoglobulina G/imunologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Toxoplasmose/imunologia , Toxoplasmose Ocular/diagnósticoRESUMO
A 5-year-old girl was bitten in her left eye by a lance-headed viper identified as Bothrops moojeni, measuring 115 cm of length. There was severe facial swelling and left exophthalmus, and enucleation of the eye was necessary. The patient apparently had mild systemic envenoming, but local inflammatory signs and histological evidence of necrosis suggest that both the mechanical trauma and the local action of the venom had a role in the genesis of the eye lesion. It is arguable if the loss of the eye could be prevented even if the antivenom was administered earlier.
