[abstract] Manifestations and treatment of ocular syphilis during an epidemic in France.

ODwire.org NewsBot

NewsBot
Staff member
Jul 30, 2007
8,369
68
0
School/Org
Newsbot U
City
Barre
State
VT
Manifestations and treatment of ocular syphilis during an epidemic in France.
Sex Transm Dis. 2007 Aug;34(8):553-6
Authors: Parc CE, Chahed S, Patel SV, Salmon-Ceron D
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 HIV-positive patients should be treated as neurosyphilis, whereas ocular syphilis in non-HIV patients can be treated as secondary syphilis.
PMID: 17667532 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


Read More...