Ocular syphilis, a case of acute posterior placoid chorioretinitis.

PURPOSE: To report a case of acute posterior placoid chorioretinitis, a rare manifestation of ocular syphilis.

METHODS

The patient was examined at age 59 with symptoms of subacute severe unilateral vision loss of the right eye. He underwent fundus examination, automated perimetry, optical coherence tomography imaging and fluorescein angiography. There was a close follow-up for 3 months.

RESULTS

At time of presentation, the visual acuity in the right eye was hand movement. Fundus examination showed a central retinal placoid yellowish lesion going beyond the temporal vascular arcades. Optical coherence tomography showed thickening of the neuroretina and disappearance of the inner and outer segment junction. Fluorescein angiography showed in the early phase areas of hypofluorescence followed by hyperfluorescence and late staining. Serologic examinations were positive for secondary syphilis. After treatment with intravenous ceftriaxone 2g/d for 2 weeks there was a complete functional recovery with regression of the fundus lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis has been described as a rare chorioretinal manifestation in patients with syphilis. The pathogenesis of this entity still remains unknown. Since there are no pathognomonic features of ocular syphilis, findings may often mimic those of other diseases. Maintaining an awareness of the different manifestations of this disease allows ophthalmologists to play a key role in the early diagnosis of syphilis.