Clinical Manifestations and Outcomes of Syphilis-associated Uveitis in Northern Spain

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the clinical characteristics and to assess visual prognosis of patients with syphilis-associated uveitis in northern Spain.

Methods: Retrospective review of clinical records in eight general uveitis referral centers.

Results: Since the year 2000, 50 patients have been diagnosed: 31 men and 19 women; median age was 41 (19–76) years. A total of 34% were co-infected with HIV and 24% presented systemic manifestations of syphilis. Median initial visual acuity and vision at last visit in 93 affected eyes was 20/50 (20/20–20/2000) and 20/22 (20/20–20/2000), respectively (p < .0001). The most frequent manifestation was papillitis (33.3%). Fifty percent of eyes with macular edema on admission presented worsening of visual acuity at last visit, whereas frequency of worsening in eyes without edema was 7.1% (p = 0.009).

Conclusions: In our series, patients with syphilitic uveitis were more usually middle-aged men and were frequently co-infected with HIV. Although most patients showed posterior segment involvement, visual prognosis was good.

• HIV
• MSM
• Treponema pallidum
• syphilis
• uveitis

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.