Otologic manifestations of AIDS: the otosyphilis connection

Abstract

Five cases of otosyphilis presenting in patients with HIV infection are discussed. The group is representative of the known stages of the disease, from asymptomatic carrier to the fully expressed immunodeficiency syndrome, and it is of relevance because otosyphilis appears to have developed at an accelerated rate from the primary infection. Four patients had been treated with penicillin 2 to 5 years previously and had a positive fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test. The fifth had concurrent neurosyphilis and was VDRL-test (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) negative 2 years prior to the onset of symptoms. In all five patients, syphilis was in the latent stage. It is proposed that it is during this phase of the disease that HIV may alter its course and hasten the development of otosyphilis. It is also suggested that otosyphilis can present at any stage of HIV infection and should be considered in seropositive patients presenting with otologic complaints.