ESCRS - PO268 - Syphilis In The Cornea

Syphilis In The Cornea

Published 2022 - 40th Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: PO268 | Type: ESCRS 2022 - Posters | DOI: 10.82333/8vwj-f308

Authors: Francesc March March De Ribot* 1 , Anna March de Ribot 1 , Teresa Torrent Solans 2 , Luis Alfonso Hernández 3

1University Hospital,la bisbal,Spain, 2University Hospital,terrassa,Spain, 3University Hospital,mexico,Mexico

Purpose

Ocular syphilis presents panuveitis and posterior uveitis as the most common manifestations, but also interstitial keratitis, chorioretinitis, retinitis, retinal vasculitis, optic, and cranial neuropathies.
Ocular syphilis presents panuveitis and posterior uveitis as the most common manifestations, but also interstitial keratitis, chorioretinitis, retinitis, retinal vasculitis, optic, and cranial neuropathies.

Setting

University hospital

Methods

A 30-year-old woman presented right eye discomfort and loss of vision of 3 weeks of evolution, with worsened dry eye symptoms for 3 months. The patient had been orientated to superficial keratitis secondary to dry eye syndrome, with no improvement despite adequate treatment. The anterior segment in the right eye presented mild conjunctival hyperemia, with superficial keratitis and a central stromal thinning area with corneal melting; the left eye was normal. 

Results

Laboratory studies revealed results positive for VDRL and antitreponema antibodies. The diagnosis was syphilitic keratitis. 

Conclusions

Syphilis is one of the great masqueraders and has to be considered even in improbable presentations. Syphilitic keratitis is a distinctive manifestation. Vision recovery can follow the completion of antibiotic therapy, but the prognosis can be poor, especially with a long time evolution in the delay of the diagnosis and treatment.