title: Visual loss resulting from immunosuppressive therapy in patients with syphilitic uveitis.
abstract: Permanent visual loss can be caused by improper use of immunosuppressive therapy in cases of uveitis without differential diagnosis of syphilitic uveitis. We present four cases of syphilitic uveitis that were incorrectly diagnosed as being secondary to rheumatic diseases and were subsequently treated with immunosuppressive therapy, leading to permanent visual loss. These cases highlight the importance of ruling out syphilis in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory ocular diseases before starting use of immunosuppressive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivian Cristina Costa
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Afonso
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Heloisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rubens M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Belfort
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emilia Inoue
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muccioli
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Belfort
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D016508:Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption Test; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents