| Abstrakt: |
Background: Untreated toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis can lead to loss of central vision, corneal opacity, tearing, and photophobia. Therefore, early treatment of such a condition is very important. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of intravitreal injection of clindamycin in toxoplasmic retinochoroditis in comparison with conventional therapy. Materials and Methods: In a clinical trial, the target population was all patients with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis referred to ophthalmology clinics in Arak city. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups, intervention group “A” received intravitreal clindamycin injection and control group “B” received standard oral treatment (Pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine and clindamycin). Tools for data gathering were as follows: a demographic questionnaire, a visual acuity test using Snellene Chart, and a retinal thickness test using Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT). Results were recorded by a retina specialist before and after intervention (on a weekly and monthly basis till complete resolution of lesions in retina). The data then were entered into the SPSS 16 software and after matching for age and sex of patients, final analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential tests such as t-test. Results: Of 26 patients entered into trial, 61.5% were residing in urban areas. The mean of time for healing of lesions and improvement of visual acuity was different between two groups of (A) and (B) (P= 0/001). The improvement of visual acuity before and after treatment was significantly different in both groups (P=0/005). Also, the central macular thickness before and after treatment was significantly different within each group (P= 0/001), but there was no such a difference between two groups in this regard (P= 0/452). Conclusions: Although two methods of treatment are effective, but due to shorter time of lesions healing and provision of higher visual acuity, intravitreal injection of clindamycin seems better than the alternative conventional therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
