[Ocular syphilis, the rise of a forgotten disease: Retrospective study of 18 cases diagnosed at Amiens University Hospital]

Abstract

Objectives: A disturbing resurgence of syphilis has been observed in the past few years. Ocular involvement of syphilis is infrequent. The goal of our study was to analyze the demographic data and clinical features and to analyze visual outcomes in cases of ocular syphilis at Amiens UH between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019.

Material and methods: This descriptive, observational, single-center study included a retrospective cohort of patients who were diagnosed with ocular syphilis. The data collected were demographic data (age, sex and sexual orientation), history of risky sexual behavior, HIV status and potential co-infections, stage of syphilis, chief complaint, initial and final logMAR visual acuity, biomicroscopic examination of the anterior segment, dilatated fundus examination, extraocular clinical manifestations and treatment initiated.

Results: Twenty-four eyes of eighteen patients (17 men and 1 woman) with a mean age of 48±12 were included in the study. 9 patients were homosexual, and 9 were heterosexual. A history of risky sexual behavior was noted in 6 patients (33.3%), and 4 patients (22%) were HIV positive. 2 patients (11.1%) had primary syphilis, 14 patients (77.7%) had secondary syphilis and 2 patients (11.1%) had tertiary syphilis. All patients were symptomatic, and vision loss was the main ophthalmologic symptom. The mean initial visual acuity was -0.55±0.56 logMAR, and the final visual acuity was 0.04±0.07 logMAR. Posterior uveitis was the predominant type of involvement (42%), and 9 patients presented with neurosyphilis. 11 patients (61.1%) showed extraocular clinical manifestations. 9 patients (50%) received subcutaneous ceftriaxone 2g, 6 patients (33.3%) received daily intravenous benzylpenicillin G, 2.4 million IU, and 3 patients (16.6%) were treated with oral doxycycline 200mg.

Conclusion: Ocular syphilis remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge because of the various ocular manifestations it provokes. Since this pathology can result in severe damage, every clinician who diagnoses uveitis should consider the possibility of syphilis so as to avoid any delay in treatment. Even though ocular syphilis remains a rare clinical entity, it is a potentially devastating infection.

Keywords: Neurosyphilis; Ocular syphilis; Syphilis oculaire; Uveitis; Uvéite.