Objective:
To examine long-term outcomes and potential risk factors for recurrence in patients treated for ocular toxoplasmosis.
Approach:
- Study Design: Retrospective analysis of 86 patients treated for ocular toxoplasmosis at the University Hospital of Verona from 1996 to 2023.
- Follow-Up: Forty-three patients completed at least 18 months of follow-up, with a median follow-up period of eight years.
Key Findings:
- Patients sleeping 6-8 hours per night had a lower risk of disease recurrence.
- 21 patients experienced at least one recurrence, with a median time to first recurrence of slightly over six years.
- Cumulative probability of recurrence reached 58% by seven years.
- Major life stressors were associated with increased relapse rates, though not statistically significant.
- Pregnancy was linked to a threefold higher risk of recurrence in women post-diagnosis.
- No significant associations found with age, sex, ethnicity, smoking, alcohol use, or other traditional risk factors.
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole showed numerically lower recurrence rates compared to pyrimethamine-sulfametopyrazine, but not statistically significant.
Interpretation:
Limitations:
- Retrospective design limits causal inferences.
- Relatively small cohort size may affect the robustness of findings.
Conclusion:
Sources:
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