Phthisis bulbi caused by late congenital syphilis untreated until adulthood.
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.
Uchiyama
Kayo
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa Red Cross Hospital, Ishikawa, Japan. aoi729@kanazawa.nsk.ne.jp
Tsuchihara
Katsuma
K
Horimoto
Takashi
T
Karasawa
Tadahiro
T
Sugiyama
Kazuhisa
K
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*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D000658:Amoxicillin; D008911:Minocycline