Ocular syphilis--back again: understanding recent increases in the incidence of ocular syphilitic disease

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2009 May-Jun;17(3):207-12. doi: 10.1080/09273940902741709.

Abstract

Purpose: The clinical findings and outcomes of 12 cases of luetic uveitis are reported.

Methods: Review of clinical records.

Results: Patients included 10 men and 2 women; 7 were homosexual, 9 HIV-positive. Six patients presented a medical history suggestive of syphilis. All patients presented with iritis and vitritis. Visual acuity improved in 11 patients after treatment.

Conclusions: Syphilis has reemerged in developed countries. This may be related to the post-AID S/HAART era, with a growing pool of HIV-positive men who oftenly practice unsafe sex. We underscore the importance of a high index of suspicion of ocular syphilis in patients with these characteristics.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • Eye Infections, Bacterial / diagnosis
  • Eye Infections, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Eye Infections, Bacterial / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • HIV Seropositivity / drug therapy
  • HIV Seropositivity / epidemiology
  • Homosexuality, Male / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Iritis / diagnosis
  • Iritis / drug therapy
  • Iritis / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Penicillins / therapeutic use
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Syphilis / diagnosis
  • Syphilis / drug therapy
  • Syphilis / epidemiology*
  • Syphilis Serodiagnosis
  • Uveitis / diagnosis
  • Uveitis / drug therapy
  • Uveitis / epidemiology*
  • Visual Acuity

Substances

  • Penicillins