Acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Click here to return to AIDSLINE main menu
DonateNow
Print this Article


Acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis.

Ophthalmology. 1990 Oct;97(10):1288-97. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/91057002
Gass JD; Braunstein RA; Chenoweth RG; Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami,; FL 33101.


Abstract: Six patients with evidence of secondary syphilis presented with visual loss in both eyes caused by large, placoid, yellowish lesions with faded centers at the level of the pigment epithelium in the macula and juxtapapillary areas. All eyes had vitreitis. All of the lesions showed a similar fluorescein angiographic pattern of early hypofluorescence and late staining. Five patients had mucocutaneous lesions typical of secondary syphilis. All five patients treated with antibiotics had prompt improvement in visual function and resolution of the fundus lesions. The ophthalmoscopic and angiographic appearance of these posterior fundus lesions was sufficiently characteristic to suggest a diagnosis of secondary syphilis. Modification of the host response to syphilis by human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection may be partly responsible for this peculiar fundus picture. Three of the four patients tested positive for HIV.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS Acute Disease Adult Antibiotics/THERAPEUTIC USE Case Report Chorioretinitis/DRUG THERAPY/*ETIOLOGY Fluorescein Angiography Fundus Oculi Human HIV Seropositivity/COMPLICATIONS Male Middle Age Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Syphilis/*COMPLICATIONS/DRUG THERAPY Syphilis Serodiagnosis Syphilis, Cutaneous/COMPLICATIONS/PATHOLOGY Vision Disorders/ETIOLOGY Visual Acuity JOURNAL ARTICLEKWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/complicationsacutediseaseadultantibiotics/therapeuticusecasereportchorioretinitis/drugtherapy/KWDetiologyfluoresceinangiographyfundusoculihumanhivseropositivity/complicationsmalemiddleagesupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tsupport,uKWDsKWDgov't,pKWDhKWDsKWDsyphilis/KWDcomplications/drugtherapysyphilisserodiagnosissyphilis,cutaneous/complications/pathologyvisiondisorders/etiologyvisualacuityjournalarticle
910330
M9130532

Copyright © 1991 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gill Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1991. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1991. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .