[Optic nerve involvement in syphilis in 4 patients].

BACKGROUND

Due to increasing numbers of cases syphilis again becomes more important in ophthalmology. Syphilitic ocular manifestations do not show any typical characteristics and therefore are often not diagnosed although a correct and early diagnosis with adequate therapy is very important for the visual outcome.

PATIENTS: We report on four patients with luetic ocular fundus manifestations, who were referred to our clinic with unspecific ocular complaints. Funduscopic examination revealed in all patients a papilledema, which was bilateral in three patients and unilateral in one patient. Additional findings were a non-granulomatous uveitis anterior and a chorioretinitis in both eyes of a 61-year-old HIV positive patient with retinal scars from a bilateral acute retinal necrosis syndrome (ARN), a mild non granulomatous iridocyclitis in a 53-year-old patient and a bilateral chorioretinitis and a cystoid macular edema in a 37-year-old patient. A 54-year-old patient showed a vein branch occlusion. Serological analysis demonstrated active syphilis in all cases and an EBV-infection in two patients. After penicillin therapy the ocular findings resolved.

CONCLUSION

In all cases of inflammatory fundus manifestations syphilis should be taken into consideration and serological lues tests should be performed routinely.