title: Phthisis bulbi caused by late congenital syphilis untreated until adulthood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of phthisis bulbi resulting from late congenital syphilis untreated until adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report clinical and laboratory evaluations of a 43-year-old woman who presented with a palpebral ulcer of the right eye.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient had a gummatous palpebral ulcer and a phthisis bulbi in the right eye and a gumma on the left eyelid. A silent interstitial keratitis of the left eye was detected. The patient had hearing loss in the right ear, her nose was missing, and her right leg had been amputated. Treponemal pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) test was positive. Although we administered intensive oral penicillin, the clinical symptoms of the patient did not improve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a rare case of phthisis bulbi resulting from late congenital syphilis. We emphasize that treatment for late congenital syphilis must be carried out early and completely.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa Red Cross Hospital, Ishikawa, Japan. aoi729@kanazawa.nsk.ne.jp
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Katsuma
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuchihara
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horimoto
authors.forename: Tadahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karasawa
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008911:Minocycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D013590:Syphilis, Congenital / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014456:Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D000658:Amoxicillin; D008911:Minocycline