[Secondary ocular syphilis with chorioretinitis of the posterior pole - a case report].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Diagnosis of syphilis is often very difficult due to the absence of typical organ manifestation. In addition syphilis has the ability to imitate any ocular inflammation. This may result in misdiagnosis and delay of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Up to now the first choice therapy is penicillin.

CASE REPORT:

We report about an otherwise healthy, 40 year-old-woman, who was referred to the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tuebingen, due to an unclear loss of visual acuity (OD 0.1 and OS 0.4). The fundus examination disclosed focal chorioretinitis on the posterior pole, which was verified in fluorescein angiography. Secondary syphilis was diagnosed due to positive serological testing. Medical treatment consisted in Penicillin (i.m.) for 2 weeks and additional oral corticosteroids, which were tapered down slowly. After 3 months visual acuity had improved to 0.9 in the right and to 1.0 in the left eye. The former chorioretinitis regions showed only hyperpigmentation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Laboratory syphilitic testing should be performed in every uveitis.

• Authors: N Stübiger, P O Denk, I Kötter, M Zierhut
• Journal: Klinische Monatsblatter fur Augenheilkunde (Klin Monbl Augenheilkd) Vol. 218 Issue 8 Pg. 574-7 (Aug 2001) ISSN: 0023-2165 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Sekundäre okuläre Syphilis mit Chorioretinitis des hinteren Poles - ein Fallbericht1.
• PMID: 11573160 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Chorioretinitis (diagnosis)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Fluorescein Angiography
• Humans
• Patient Care Team
• Syphilis Serodiagnosis
• Syphilis, Latent (diagnosis)
• Visual Acuity
• Visual Field Tests