Acute iridocyclitis in a patient with AIDS diagnosed as toxoplasmosis by PCR

Purpose: To study the etiology of an acute iridocyclitis in a patient with AIDS using polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) analysis of aqueous humor. Meth ods: Case report describing a patient diagnosed with toxoplasmic retinochor oiditis in his left eye. He stopped his treatment after three weeks and sub sequently developed an acute iridocyclitis without chorioretinitis in the f ellow eye. Anterior chamber paracentesis was performed and aqueous humor wa s assayed by PCR. Results: PCR of the aqueous humor showed positivity for T oxoplasma gondii The iridocyclitis responded to topical dexamethasone and o ral treatment with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine. Conclusion: PCR is an ef fective method to diagnose toxoplasmic iridocyclitis in a patient with AIDS .