Serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in ocular toxoplasmosis

Alejandra de-la-Torre, Angela Cristina Ríos-Cadavid, Carlos Mario Cardozo-García, Leonardo Padilla, Jorge Enrique Gómez-Marín


Received: January 18, 2010    Revised: November 22, 2010    Accepted: December 13, 2010   

Jorge Enrique Gómez-Marín, Grupo de Estudio en Parasitología Molecular (GEPAMOL), Universidad del Quindío, Armenia, Colombia
Corresponding author. Grupo de Estudio en Parasitología Molecular (GEPAMOL), Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad del Quindío, Carrera 15 Calle 12N. Armenia, Colombia.

There are no previous study about ocular toxoplasmosis and serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphated hormone (DHEAS). We use the chemoluminiscence automatized Immulite assay to determine the levels of DHEAS. Four groups were studied: (1) Individuals with chronic asymptomatic infection with a positive test for IgG anti-Toxoplasma and without ocular lesions (n = 16); (2) Chronic asymptomatic patients with retinal scars of retinochoroiditis by Toxoplasma (n = 19); (3) Acute symptomatic patients with active retinochoroiditis by Toxoplasma (n = 26); (4) Individuals with negative assays for IgG anti-Toxoplasma (n = 21). Comparison of DHEAS levels between groups were adjusted by age and sex and non-parametric Kruskall Wallis statistical tests were applied. No significant differences in serum levels of DHEAS were found between groups when age and sex were controlled. DHEAS levels were not significantly different in active ocular toxoplasmosis related to non active or non infected persons.

Chorioretinitis, Dehydroepiandrostenione hormones, Toxoplasmosis