Syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis as initial presentation of early neurosyphilis

Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol. 2017 Oct;92(10):490-494. doi: 10.1016/j.oftal.2016.10.019. Epub 2016 Dec 7.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Case report: A 36 year-old male with a recent HIV diagnosis, presented with loss of vision of his left eye. Ophthalmoscopy revealed a unilateral yellowish placoid lesion in the macula. After fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, syphilis serology, and cerebrospinal fluid results, he was diagnosed with neurosyphilis and syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis.

Discussion: Acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis is a rare ocular manifestation of syphilis. All patients with characteristic clinical and angiographic findings of acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis should be tested for a neurosyphilis and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection. Early treatment with intravenous penicillin is usually effective with good visual results.

Keywords: Angiografía por tomografía de coherencia óptica; Coriorretinitis placoide; Human Immunodeficiency Virus; Maculopatía placoide; Neurosyphilis; Neurosífilis; Optical coherence tomographic angiography; Placoid chorioretinitis; Placoid maculopathy; Syphilis; Sífilis; Virus de inmunodeficiencia humana.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chorioretinitis / etiology*
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neurosyphilis / complications
  • Neurosyphilis / diagnosis*
  • Syphilis Serodiagnosis
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence