Acute syphilitic chorioretinitis after a missed primary diagnosis: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Syphilis is well known as an infectious disease which can present with a large variety of symptoms. Clinical diagnosis can be difficult and may be complicated in modern medicine by immunosuppressive treatment and possible side effects of medication.


METHODS
We describe a rare case of placoid chorioretinitis due to Treponema pallidum which developed after the primary symptom of proteinuria was not recognized as a rare manifestation of syphilis. Diagnosis of syphilitic chorioretinitis and/or endophthalmitis was made by broad range amplification of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene obtained from vitreous after diagnostic vitrectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
This case shows that clinicians should be alert in patients with proteinuria and chorioretinitis as they can represent rare manifestations of syphilis. Syphilis should be in the differential diagnosis of any unknown symptom and in the presumed side effects of medication.
Handtrack
Claudia
C
Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Krankenhausstrabe, Erlangen, Germany. claudia.handtrack@gmx.de
Knorr
Harald
H
Amann
Kerstin U
KU
Schoerner
Christoph
C
Hilgers
Karl F
KF
Geissdörfer
Walter
W