Manifestations and treatment of ocular syphilis during an epidemic in France.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To review cases of ocular syphilis presenting to a tertiary uveitis clinic during a syphilis epidemic in France between January 2001 and January 2004.

STUDY DESIGN:

Retrospective chart and patient database review.

RESULTS:

Ten patients who presented with symptoms and signs of uveitis tested positive for active syphilis. Some of the patients also presented with a rash or headache. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing was positive in eight of the 10 patients, with CD4 cell counts >200 cells/mm3 in seven of the patients. Ocular inflammation resolved and visual acuity improved in all patients after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

A diagnosis of ocular syphilis should be considered in any patient with visual loss associated with a rash or headache, irrespective of the patient's CD4 cell count. Ocular syphilis in HIV-positive patients should be treated as neurosyphilis, whereas ocular syphilis in non-HIV patients can be treated as secondary syphilis.

• Authors: Christine E Parc, Sadri Chahed, Sanjay V Patel, Dominique Salmon-Ceron
• Journal: Sexually transmitted diseases (Sex Transm Dis) Vol. 34 Issue 8 Pg. 553-6 (Aug 2007) ISSN: 0148-5717 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17667532 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents

Topics

• Adult
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Disease Outbreaks
• France (epidemiology)
• HIV Infections (complications)
• Homosexuality, Male
• Humans
• Male
• Medical Records
• Middle Aged
• Neurosyphilis (blood, complications, diagnosis, drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Syphilis Serodiagnosis
• Uveitis (complications, drug therapy, epidemiology, pathology)
• Visual Acuity