Acute syphilitic blindness in an HIV-positive patient

Abstract

This case report describes a rare manifestation of syphilis. An HIV-positive patient with severe immunosuppression presented with rapid loss of vision due to eye involvement of Treponema pallidum infection. The ophthalmologic examination on admittance showed a chorioretinitis, an uveitis, and a swollen optical disc of both eyes. Reconstitution of vision after application of intravenous penicillin occurred within 3 weeks. Despite low HIV prevalence in central Europe, behaviors that promote transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases tend to increase. The clinical presentation of syphilis may be atypical and the rate of complications is often higher in HIV-infected patients. Thus, Treponema pallidum infection should be considered in immunosuppressed HIV-positive patients presenting with chorioretinitis. Patients should receive treatment similar to that for neurosyphilis if there is suspicion of involvement of the central nervous system.