Characteristics of Syphilitic Uveitis in Northern China

Overview

Journal BMC Ophthalmol

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Ophthalmology

Date 2017 Jun 21

PMID 28629400

Citations 7

Authors

Xiaomin Zhang

Qian Du

Feifei Ma

Yinglong Lu

Meiyan Wang

Xiaorong Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: To describe the characteristics of patients with syphilitic uveitis in northern China.

Methods: A case series of 21 patients (33 eyes) diagnosed with syphilitic uveitis from 2011 to 2016 at a tertiary center in northern China was retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Twenty-one patients (33 eyes) were diagnosed as syphilitic uveitis. Posterior segment involvement was found in 32 eyes (97.0%). Vitreous haze, neuroretinitis, and posterior placoid chorioretinitis were mainly found in patients with a relatively short duration of the disease, while diffuse chorioretinitis, pseudoretinitis pigmentosa, cystoid macular edema, and epiretinal membrane were found in patients with relatively long duration of ocular involvement. A low best-corrected visual acuity (P = 0.022) and a delay of syphilis treatment (P < 0.001) were associated with a significantly worse visual outcome.

Conclusions: Syphilitic uveitis should be included in the differential diagnosis of any form of posterior ocular inflammation. The pattern of ocular involvement may change with the disease progression.

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