title: Peripapillary choroidal neovascularisation in the context of ocular syphilis is sensitive to combination antibiotic and corticosteroid treatment.
abstract: Peripapillary choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) in the context of ocular syphilis is exceptional and little is known about its natural history and optimal therapeutic management. We report here a case of right eye peripapillary CNV with subretinal fluid encroaching on the fovea in a patient with mild bilateral ocular inflammation and cystoid macular oedema (CMO) in his contralateral eye. Extensive investigations revealed positive serology for active syphilitic infection. The patient received treatment with intravenous benzylpenicillin according to the algorithm for neurosyphilis complemented with oral corticosteroids as prophylaxis against Jarisch-Herxsheimer reaction for a period of 17 days. On the 15th day, receding of subretinal fluid in his right eye to a small pocket around the optic disc was identified as well as resolution of left eye CMO. We suggest that a course of antibiotic treatment for neurosyphilis with the addition of oral corticosteroids may be an effective therapeutic option for CNV in the context of ocular syphilis and thus more invasive treatment approaches are not warranted.
authors.affiliation: Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Central Manchester Healthcare Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. konstantinos.balaskas@gmail.com
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Balaskas
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: D'Souza
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone; D010400:Penicillin G