TY - JOUR
T1 - Syphilitic uveitis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients
AU - Shalaby, Ismail A.
AU - Dünn, James P.
AU - Semba, Richard D.
AU - Jabs, Douglas A.
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - Objective: To document the incidence and clinical features of syphilitic uveitis in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Single tertiary uveitis referral center. Patients: The charts of HIV-infected patients with uveitis and a reactive fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test seen between November 1983 and June 1995 were reviewed. Results: Syphilis was the most common bacterial cause of uveitis in this group. Thirteen patients (0.6% of the 2085 HIV-positive patients seen in the clinic during the study period) were dually infected. Twelve patients were male. Six patients (46%) had previously been treated for syphilis, 4 with intramuscular penicillin G benzathine only. Four patients (31%) had isolated anterior uveitis, 3 patients (23%) had anterior and intermediate uveitis, and 5 patients (38%) had panuveitis. One patient (8%) presented with optic nerve and retinal atrophy. Eight patients were treated with intravenous penicillin, 3 with intravenous and intramuscular penicillin, and 1 with intravenous ceftriaxone sodium. Of the 12 patients for whom follow-up examinations were available after treatment, ocular inflammation decreased in 11 (92%) and visual acuity improved in 8 (67%). Rapid plasma reagin titers decreased a median of 64- fold compared with pretreatment levels, and all patients with reactive cerebrospinal fluid who underwent pretreatment and posttreatment lumbar punctures normalized following therapy with intravenous antibiotics. Conclusions: Syphilis is an uncommon cause of uveitis in HIV-infected patients. Anterior uveitis is the most common ocular manifestation, but panuveitis is more common than isolated anterior uveitis. Intravenous penicillin is effective therapy.
AB - Objective: To document the incidence and clinical features of syphilitic uveitis in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Single tertiary uveitis referral center. Patients: The charts of HIV-infected patients with uveitis and a reactive fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test seen between November 1983 and June 1995 were reviewed. Results: Syphilis was the most common bacterial cause of uveitis in this group. Thirteen patients (0.6% of the 2085 HIV-positive patients seen in the clinic during the study period) were dually infected. Twelve patients were male. Six patients (46%) had previously been treated for syphilis, 4 with intramuscular penicillin G benzathine only. Four patients (31%) had isolated anterior uveitis, 3 patients (23%) had anterior and intermediate uveitis, and 5 patients (38%) had panuveitis. One patient (8%) presented with optic nerve and retinal atrophy. Eight patients were treated with intravenous penicillin, 3 with intravenous and intramuscular penicillin, and 1 with intravenous ceftriaxone sodium. Of the 12 patients for whom follow-up examinations were available after treatment, ocular inflammation decreased in 11 (92%) and visual acuity improved in 8 (67%). Rapid plasma reagin titers decreased a median of 64- fold compared with pretreatment levels, and all patients with reactive cerebrospinal fluid who underwent pretreatment and posttreatment lumbar punctures normalized following therapy with intravenous antibiotics. Conclusions: Syphilis is an uncommon cause of uveitis in HIV-infected patients. Anterior uveitis is the most common ocular manifestation, but panuveitis is more common than isolated anterior uveitis. Intravenous penicillin is effective therapy.
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U2 - 10.1001/archopht.1997.01100150471003
DO - 10.1001/archopht.1997.01100150471003
M3 - Article
C2 - 9109754
AN - SCOPUS:0030903120
SN - 0003-9950
VL - 115
SP - 469
EP - 473
JO - Archives of ophthalmology
JF - Archives of ophthalmology
IS - 4
ER -