International Journal of Epidemiology 2001;30:1309-1313
© International Epidemiological Association 2001
Perinatal epidemiology |
Effect of prenatal treatment on the risk of intracranial and ocular lesions in children with congenital toxoplasmosis
Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Abstract
Background Hydrocephalus, intracranial calcification and retinochoroiditis are the most common manifestations of tissue damage due to congenital toxoplasmosis, but the effect of prenatal treatment on these outcomes is unclear. We aimed to determine the effect of prenatal treatment for toxoplasmosis on the risk of intracranial and ocular lesions in congenitally infected children at 3 years of age.
Methods A cohort of mothers identified during pregnancy with toxoplasma infection and their 181 liveborn children with confirmed congenital toxoplasmosis was retrospectively analysed to determine the presence of intracranial and ocular lesions. As few women are not treated, we compared the effects of the treatment potency (pyrimethamine-sulfadiazine versus spiramycin or no treatment), and the timing of treatment, on the risks of intracranial lesions, time to detection of ocular lesions, and detection of any lesions (intracranial or ocular) by 3 years of age. Analyses took account of the gestation at maternal seroconversion.
Results There was no evidence for an effect of pyrimethamine-sulfadiazine on intracranial, ocular or any lesions by 3 years: odds ratio (OR) for any lesions 0.89 (95% CI : 0.41, 1.88). There was no evidence of an effect of delayed treatment on ocular lesions (hazard ratio = 0.69, 95% CI : 0.28, 1.68) or any lesions by 3 years of age (OR = 0.44, 95% CI : 0.16, 1.19).
Conclusions Our study failed to detect a beneficial effect of early or more potent anti toxoplasma treatment on the risks of intracranial or ocular lesions in children with congenital toxoplasmosis. However, larger, prospective studies, which determine the effect of prenatal treatment on long-term developmental outcomes are required to justify changes in clinical practice.
Keywords Congenital toxoplasmosis, prenatal treatment, intracranial calcification, retinochoroiditis
Accepted 24 May 2001
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  K. Freeman, H. K. Tan, A. Prusa, E. Petersen, W. Buffolano, G. Malm, M. Cortina-Borja, R. Gilbert, and for the European Multicentre Study on Congenital T Predictors of Retinochoroiditis in Children With Congenital Toxoplasmosis: European, Prospective Cohort Study Pediatrics, May 1, 2008; 121(5): e1215 - e1222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M R Stanford, H K Tan, and R E Gilbert Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis presenting in childhood: clinical findings in a UK survey Br J Ophthalmol, December 1, 2006; 90(12): 1464 - 1467. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R Gilbert and C Dezateux Newborn screening for congenital toxoplasmosis: feasible, but benefits are not established. Arch. Dis. Child., August 1, 2006; 91(8): 629 - 631. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R Gilbert, H K Tan, S Cliffe, E Guy, and M Stanford Symptomatic toxoplasma infection due to congenital and postnatally acquired infection Arch. Dis. Child., June 1, 2006; 91(6): 495 - 498. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Eskild and P. Magnus Commentary: Little evidence of effective prenatal treatment against congenital toxoplasmosis--the implications for testing in pregnancy Int. J. Epidemiol., December 1, 2001; 30(6): 1314 - 1315. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P Thulliez Commentary: Efficacy of prenatal treatment for toxoplasmosis: a possibility that cannot be ruled out Int. J. Epidemiol., December 1, 2001; 30(6): 1315 - 1316. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|