Manifestations and Treatment of Ocular Syphilis During an Epidemic in France

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 tes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sexually transmitted diseases 2007-08, Vol.34 (8), p.553-556
Main Authors: PARC, CHRISTINE E., CHAHED, SADRI, PATEL, SANJAY V., SALMON-CERON, DOMINIQUE
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial diseases of the genital system
Biological and medical sciences
Disease Outbreaks
Epidemics
Epidemiology. Vaccinations
France - epidemiology
General aspects
HIV Infections - complications
Homosexuality, Male
Human bacterial diseases
Human immunodeficiency virus
Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models
Humans
Infectious diseases
Male
Medical Records
Medical sciences
Medical treatment
Middle Aged
Neurosyphilis - blood
Neurosyphilis - complications
Neurosyphilis - diagnosis
Neurosyphilis - drug therapy
Neurosyphilis - epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Syphilis
Syphilis Serodiagnosis
Treponema pallidum
Uveitis - complications
Uveitis - drug therapy
Uveitis - epidemiology
Uveitis - pathology
Visual Acuity
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Summary: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 HIVpositive patients should be treated as neurosyphilis, whereas ocular syphilis in non-HIV patients can be treated as secondary syphilis.
ISSN:0148-5717
1537-4521
DOI:10.1097/01.olq.0000253385.49373.1a