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Syphilis presenting as scleritis in an HIV‐positive man undergoing immune reconstitution
Author(s) -
Moloney Gregory,
Branley Michael,
Kotsiou George,
Rhodes Dennis
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
clinical and experimental ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.3
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1442-9071
pISSN - 1442-6404
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9071.2004.00871.x
Subject(s) - medicine , syphilis , scleritis , retinitis , neurosyphilis , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , dermatology , penicillin , surgery , serology , red eye , ophthalmology , immunology , uveitis , antibody , antibiotics , virus , human cytomegalovirus , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
A 45‐year‐old HIV‐positive man receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) presented with 6 weeks of right‐sided headache and right eye pain. He had been diagnosed seropositive 2 years previously and screened negative for syphilis at that time. Examination demonstrated focal anterior scleritis with underlying retinitis and a mild vitritis. He was found to have positive syphilis serology and further investigations were consistent with neurosyphilis. Parenteral penicillin was commenced with prompt clinical response. This initial presentation of syphilis as acute scleritis emphasizes the need for thorough work‐up of immunocompromised patients with inflammatory ocular disease.