Ocular syphilis--back again: understanding recent increases in the incidence of ocular syphilitic disease.
OBJECTIVE
The clinical findings and outcomes of 12 cases of luetic uveitis are reported.


METHODS
Review of clinical records.


RESULTS
Patients included 10 men and 2 women; 7 were homosexual, 9 HIV-positive. Six patients presented a medical history suggestive of syphilis. All patients presented with iritis and vitritis. Visual acuity improved in 11 patients after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Syphilis has reemerged in developed countries. This may be related to the post-AID S/HAART era, with a growing pool of HIV-positive men who oftenly practice unsafe sex. We underscore the importance of a high index of suspicion of ocular syphilis in patients with these characteristics.
Fonollosa
Alex
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain. 36427afc@comb.es
Giralt
Joan
J
Pelegrín
Laura
L
Sánchez-Dalmau
Bernat
B
Segura
Antonio
A
García-Arumí
José
J
Adan
Alfredo
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007500:Iritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity
D010406:Penicillins