The importance of proper and prompt treatment of ocular syphilis: a lesson from permanent vision loss in 52 eyes

Clinical Insights: Antimicrobial Therapy for Infectious Uveitis

Infectious uveitis is a major global cause of vision impairment. Despite the eye's immune privilege, afforded by the blood-ocular barrier that restricts microbial entry, several pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites can still infiltrate and cause ocular infections and complications. Clinicians often encounter significant challenges in treating infectious uveitis due to limited or ineffective treatment options. Modern molecular techniques and imaging can aid in diagnosing and assessing intraocular infections. Various antimicrobial therapies exist, spanning topical and systemic treatments, but these are constrained by issues like drug concentration, penetration, effective duration, toxicity, and side effects. Treatment approaches also differ based on the infection's etiology. This review provides recent updates on antimicrobial therapies from a clinical perspective, covering topical, systemic, and regional treatments for infectious uveitis.

State-of-the-Art Review: Neurosyphilis

We review key concepts in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of individuals with neurosyphilis. We describe the epidemiology of syphilis in the United States, highlight populations that are markedly affected by this infection, and attempt to estimate the burden of neurosyphilis. We describe the cardinal clinical features of early and late (tertiary) neurosyphilis and characterize the clinical significance of asymptomatic neurosyphilis in the antibiotic era. We review the indications for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination and the performance characteristics of different CSF assays including treponemal and lipoidal antibodies, white cell count, and protein concentration. Future biomarkers and the role of imaging are briefly considered. We review preferred and alternative treatments for neurosyphilis and evidence for their use, including evidence for the use of enhanced intramuscular benzathine penicillin G to supplement intravenous penicillin.

Could ceftriaxone be a viable alternative to penicillin for the treatment of ocular syphilis?

This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of ceftriaxone with that of aqueous crystalline penicillin G in treating ocular syphilis. We conducted a retrospective study from 2010 to 2021. Syphilis patients were administered either ceftriaxone (2 g intravenously daily for 14 days) or aqueous crystalline penicillin G [4 million units (MU) intravenously every 4 h for 14 days] as therapeutic interventions. Subsequently, we utilized these two groups to assess the serological results, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and visual acuity at time intervals spanning 3 to 6 months post-treatment. A total of 205 patients were included, with 34 assigned to the ceftriaxone group and 171 to the penicillin group. The median age of patients was 56 years, with an interquartile range of 49-62 years, and 137 of them (66.8%) were male. Between 3 and 6 months after treatment, 13 patients (38.2%) in the ceftriaxone group and 82 patients (48.0%) in the penicillin group demonstrated effective treatment based on the clinical and laboratory parameters. The crude odds ratio (OR) was 0.672 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.316-1.428, P = 0.301), indicating no significant difference in effectiveness between the two groups. Thirty patients (17.5%) in the penicillin group and six patients (17.6%) in the ceftriaxone group did not experience successful outcomes. Notably, no serious adverse effects were reported in both the groups. There was no significant difference in the effectiveness of ceftriaxone and aqueous crystalline penicillin G in treating ocular syphilis. The administration of ceftriaxone without requiring hospitalization presents a convenient and safe alternative treatment option for ocular syphilis.

Syphilitic scleritis and episcleritis: A review

Scleritis and episcleritis are rare, but potentially sight-threatening forms of syphilis. To provide a full description of this neglected subset of ocular syphilis, we evaluated the English literature for reports of syphilitic scleritis and episcleritis, recording the demographics, clinical characteristics, serological data, management practices, treatment responses, and visual outcomes. Previously published descriptions of 44 patients with syphilitic scleritis (50 eyes) and 9 patients with syphilitic episcleritis (14 eyes) were identified. The predominant type of scleritis was anterior scleritis, accounting for 92.9% of cases, with nodular anterior scleritis being the most frequent subtype at 58.1%. Almost one-quarter of patients were co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Initial misdiagnosis was common and led to delays in initiating treatment with appropriate antibiotics. Visual outcomes were often good in both scleritis and episcleritis, irrespective of HIV infection status, although complications including scleral thinning, keratitis, and uveitis, along with permanent visual loss and an association with neurosyphilis, were reported. Response to antibiotic treatment was typically rapid, often within 1 week. With the rising global incidence of syphilis, testing patients with scleritis or episcleritis for this infectious disease is important to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment for best ocular and systemic outcomes.

Ocular Syphilis as a Primary Manifestation of Neurosyphilis: A Case Report

Sexually transmitted infectious diseases could affect a variety of organs, generating significant symptomatology. In the elderly population, infectious causes for vision problems are not generally considered. We present the case of an elderly patient with blurred vision and darkening of visual fields. He underwent an unsuccessful biopsy of the temporal artery as his vision disturbances presented also with episodic headaches. He was found to have an elevated rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test in his cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. He was treated for ocular syphilis with a total resolution of his vision loss.

Sexually transmitted infections and HIV in ophthalmology

The ocular and periocular manifestations of sexually transmitted infections are heterogeneous in etiology, manifestations, and complications. Etiologic agents include bacteria, viruses, parasites, and protozoa, which are most frequently transmitted via direct ocular contact with an active lesion or infected bodily fluid, autoinoculation, or dissemination from a distant site. Vertical transmission most commonly occurs perinatally during vaginal delivery. The complications of ophthalmia neonatorum can be severe, with the potential for permanent blindness or life-threatening systemic involvement if untreated. Clinical features, diagnostic modalities, and therapeutic regimens vary based on etiology and are summarized in this review. Prompt diagnosis is imperative, given the severe sequelae that may result from ocular involvement in these infections, including permanent vision loss. A multidisciplinary approach, involving both ophthalmology and dermatology, to diagnosis and management is essential to mitigate the risk of morbidity associated with sexually transmitted infections resulting in eye disease.

Molecular Detection and Typing of Treponema pallidum in Non-Ocular Samples from Patients with Ocular Syphilis

INTRODUCTION

Ocular syphilis is a rare but potentially sight-threatening manifestation of infection with the spirochete Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. Molecular strain typing of clinical specimens obtained from patients with syphilis can provide useful epidemiological and clinical information. In this study, we assess the utility of non-ocular clinical samples in strain typing for patients with diagnosed ocular syphilis.

METHODS

We collected samples of excess blood, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 6 patients with ocular syphilis treated in 2013-2016. DNA was extracted, purified, and then analyzed using an enhanced molecular typing method including sequence analysis of tp0548, number of repeats in the arp gene, and restriction fragment length polymorphism of the tpr gene.

RESULTS

Molecular strain typing based on tp0548 gene sequence analysis revealed two cases of type F and two cases of type G in 3 of 6 (50%) cases with CSF samples, 1 of which was obtained after starting antibiotics. In a patient with 2 distinct episodes, the same tp0548 type (type G) was identified in both episodes using different sample types (CSF, whole blood). Serum samples were available in 6 cases, but none were successfully typed with any of the methods. Amplification of the tpr and arp genes was unsuccessful in all cases. Overall, strain types were identified in 4 of the 7 episodes.

CONCLUSION

Treponema pallidum strain types F and G were detected in CSF or whole blood in 4 of 7 episodes in this series. We demonstrate moderate sensitivity of strain typing in ocular syphilis using non-ocular clinical specimens.

Clinical Features of Syphilis Patients with Ocular Symptoms as the Initial Manifestation

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of patients with syphilis having ocular symptoms as the initial manifestation.

Patients and Methods

Eleven patients diagnosed with ocular syphilis at Dokkyo Medical University Hospital and Jichi Medical University Hospital between November 2018 and April 2022 were studied retrospectively.

Results

Six patients were diagnosed with secondary, three were latent, and one was tertiary stage syphilis. Ten out of 11 patients underwent cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and 1 refused. Nine out of 10 patients tested positive, of which 4 presented with neurological symptoms and the others were asymptomatic. Nine out of 11 patients tested negative for human immunodeficiency virus. Antiluetic therapy was administered to 10 out of 11 patients, which improved or maintained visual acuity at -0.1 logMAR in 9 patients. One patient achieved the best-corrected visual acuity -0.1 logMAR in one eye, whereas the other showed no improvement due to severe chorioretinal degeneration.

Conclusion

Ocular syphilis presents with various clinical findings and has no significant ocular manifestations without acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis. Patients diagnosed with syphilis based on ocular symptoms should undergo cerebrospinal fluid analysis.

Prognostic effect of HIV on visual acuity in ocular syphilis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Ocular syphilis is a vision-threatening disease that can lead to permanent blindness if left untreated. The global re-emergence of syphilis warrants greater investigations into the visual prognosis of eyes affected by this potentially devastating disease. This systematic review investigates the impact of HIV on visual acuity (VA) outcomes in ocular syphilis.

METHODS

A literature search of Medline, PubMed, Embase, Clinicaltrials.gov and Cochrane Reviews was conducted for studies published between 01 January 2011 and 19 March 2022, reporting non-aggregate initial and post-treatment VA data of eyes with ocular syphilis and corresponding HIV status in patients ≥ 18 years.

RESULTS

A total of 95 studies, including 364 patients and 568 eyes, were evaluated. Among people living with HIV with a diagnosis of ocular syphilis, affected eyes were more likely to have optic nerve involvement and panuveitis. However, HIV status, CD4 cell count, and HIV viral load were not predictive of VA outcomes of treated ocular syphilis. Prognostic factors of final VA worse than 1.00 logMAR were female sex, the presence of macular edema, and VA ≥ 1.00 at presentation. The strongest predictor of a worse final VA was VA ≥ 1.00 at presentation.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review demonstrates that HIV status, CD4 cell count, and HIV viral load are not significant factors impacting VA outcomes of eyes with ocular syphilis. While visual prognosis is generally good, poor visual outcome is most strongly predicted by poor VA at presentation. This underscores the importance of early recognition and treatment prior to permanent vision loss.

Demystifying Ocular Syphilis - A Major Review

Syphilis, caused by the spirochaete, Treponema pallidum, continues to be a public health challenge globally with its rates steadily increasing in the past few years. The disease is transmitted through small breaks in the skin during sexual contact, or via congenital transmission in utero, either across the placenta or by contact with an active genital lesion during delivery. Estimated 5.7-6 million new cases are detected every year worldwide in the 15-49 years age group. An increased incidence has been reported in most populations with particular clusters in special groups like men who have sex with men, female sex workers, and their male clients. Ocular syphilis has a varied presentation and is considered a great mimicker in all cases of uveitis. The laboratory diagnosis of syphilis is predominantly based on serological tests including TPHA and VDRL. Parenteral penicillin is the cornerstone of treatment for all stages of ocular syphilis.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually and vertically transmitted bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Its prevalence is high in low-income and middle-income countries, and its incidence has increased in high-income countries in the last few decades among men who have sex with men. Syphilis is a major cause of adverse pregnancy outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries. Clinical features include a primary chancre at the point of inoculation, followed weeks later by the rash of secondary syphilis, a latent period, and in some cases, involvement of the eyes, CNS, and cardiovascular systems. It is diagnosed serologically. A single intramuscular dose of long-acting benzathine penicillin is recommended for people who have had syphilis for less than 1 year and longer courses for people with late latent syphilis. Control strategies include screening and treatment of all pregnant women, and targeted interventions for groups at high risk. Vaccine development, research on antibiotic prophylaxis, and digital messaging as prevention strategies are ongoing.

Assessment of Visual Acuity Outcomes in Ocular Syphilis Treated With Adjunctive Topical or Oral Steroids

PURPOSE

There is no consensus surrounding adjunctive steroid use in the treatment of ocular syphilis. We evaluated clinical outcomes of patients with ocular syphilis who were treated with penicillin plus either topical or oral steroids.

METHODS

Nine male patients aged 26 to 72 years with a diagnosis of ocular syphilis were retrospectively identified (18 eyes). All patients were treated with penicillin and adjunctive topical or oral steroids. Visual acuity reported as the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) and slit lamp findings were documented at presentation, short-term follow-up (<7 days after initiating therapy), and long-term follow-up (day 7+). Visual acuity outcomes were compared between eyes treated with topical versus oral steroids as well as eyes treated simultaneously with adjunctive steroids and penicillin versus patients treated with steroids after penicillin.

RESULTS

At short-term follow-up, the mean logMAR (SD, Snellen fraction) visual acuity for eyes treated with topical steroids 0.93 (0.53, 20/170) was significantly lower than that for the oral steroid group 0.23 (0.09, 20/110; p=0.0075). Similarly, at long-term follow-up, the topical steroid group had a significantly lower visual acuity of 0.75 (20/112) compared to a visual acuity of 0.07 (20/25) for the oral steroid group (p=0.0022). Moreover, the oral steroid group displayed significant improvement in visual acuity at long-term follow-up compared to baseline while the topical steroid group did not demonstrate the same effect (p=0.0406 and p=0.5945, respectively). Initiation of steroid treatment simultaneously with penicillin did not result in better visual acuity than delayed steroid treatment (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Steroids are an effective adjunctive treatment for patients with ocular syphilis. Oral steroids may be superior to topical steroids for improving visual function, especially in patients with a severe inflammatory component. Patients treated with oral or topical steroids and penicillin simultaneously did not demonstrate better visual acuity outcomes than patients treated with oral or topical steroids after penicillin was initiated.

Case report: Visual acuity loss as a warning sign of ocular syphilis: A retrospective analysis of 17 cases

Objectives

To define the clinical features of ocular syphilis and analyze the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of ocular syphilis patients to determine the co-occurrence of neurosyphilis.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 17 patients (23 eyes) with ocular syphilis admitted to the Fifth People's Hospital, Suzhou, China from September 2017 to December 2021. Clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, treatment, and clinical outcomes were analyzed, and a review was conducted.

Results

Eight males (12 eyes) and nine females (11 eyes) were enrolled. Mean patient age was 49.06 ± 3.47 years. The total manifestation time for ocular symptoms ranged from 10 days to 6 years. The cohort was comprised of three cases of early syphilis, four cases of late syphilis, and ten cases of unknown stage. The primary complaints were decreased visual acuity in 15 cases (21 eyes), ptosis in 1 case (1 eye), and loss of light perception in 1 case (1 eye). Cases were diagnosed as chorioretinitis in 7 cases (8 eyes), optic nerve retinitis in 4 cases (6 eyes), optic neuritis in 4 cases (7 eyes), and oculomotor nerve palsy in 1 case (1 eye), syphilitic stromal keratitis in 1 case (1 eye). Serum HIV antibody was positive in one case(Nos.2). All patients had reactive serum Treponema Pallidum Particle Agglutination (TPPA) and Toluidine Red Unheated Serum Test (TRUST). All patients underwent CSF examination. CSF white blood cell count was ≥5 × 10⁶/L in 13 cases, CSF protein was >500 mg/L in 6 cases, TPPA was reactive in 15 cases, and TRUST was reactive in 5 cases. Eleven cases were also diagnosed with neurosyphilis. Patients were treated with either penicillin G sodium or ceftriaxone sodium. At time of discharge, 12 patients reported improved visual acuity. Abnormal serum or CSF examination improved in ten patients during the 6–12 month follow-up.

Conclusion

Visual acuity loss is a warning indicator of ocular syphilis. Ocular syphilis primarily manifests as posterior uveitis, involving the choroid, retina, and optic nerve, and often co-occurs with neurosyphilis. Effective treatment should be administered immediately to avoid irreversible visual impairment and other serious adverse outcomes.

Demographic, Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Ocular Syphilis: 6-Years Case Series Study From an Eye Center in East-China

Purpose

To report the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of ocular syphilis based on a 6-year case series study from an eye center in East-China.

Methods

A total of 131 cases (191 eyes) of ocular syphilis and the annual number of total syphilis cases from January 2016 to December 2021, were included in this study. Detailed medical records including systemic and ophthalmic medical history, a complete ophthalmic examination, color fundus photography, B-type ultrasound, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), laboratory tests of the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples, as well as visual field test and orbital or cranial MRI in cases with suspected optic neuritis or optic atrophy, were collected and analyzed. Pearson Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests was used for statistics analysis.

Results

Of the 131 cases with ocular syphilis, 86 cases were in men and 6 cases had a past medical history or systemic manifestation of syphilis. HIV was found in only 2 of 70 cases undergoing serum HIV test. The average age was 54.0 years, ranging from 26–85 years. The average percentage of ocular syphilis out from the total syphilis cases was 5.1%, the average titer of serum rapid plasma regain (RPR) at presentation was 1:32, ranging from 1:1–1:512. The most predominant manifestation of ocular syphilis was posterior uveitis, followed by optic neuritis, optic atrophy, panuveitis, retinal vasculitis, and retinitis. The median of BCVA of all 191 eyes was 20/200 (ranging from no light perception to 20/20), and 20/40 (ranging from no light perception to 20/20) at presentation and final follow-up, respectively. Ocular syphilis with active inflammation responded well to penicillin therapy, no matter the initial visual acuity, ocular disease type, or RPR titers, as long as it was diagnosed early and treated properly and promptly. However, cases with optic atrophy, acute retinal necrosis, late diagnosis, permanent disruption, or loss of outer segment of photoreceptors of macular retina on SD-OCT showed poor visual improvement after therapy.

Conclusions

Early diagnosis of ocular syphilis is still challenging in clinical practice and syphilis tests should be routinely performed in patients with uveitis, retinitis, optic neuritis, and optic atrophy.

Ophthalmologic Assesment of Patients with Syphilitic Optic Neuropathy

PURPOSE

To assess the different clinical findings and symptoms of patients with optic neuritis (ON) and uveitis, who were diagnosed with syphilis.

METHODS

The medical records of patients, who had ocular involvement of syphilis, were retrospectively reviewed. Thirteen patients with syphilitic optic neuropathy (SON) were enrolled and underwent complete ophthalmological examinations and auxiliary laboratory testing.

RESULTS

Nine patients (69.2%) had comorbidities in addition to syphilis. One patient (with two eyes) presented with retrobulbar neuritis, and 12 patients (with 17 eyes) presented with anterior optic neuritis. Three patients (23.1%) had no uveitis, and 10 patients (76.9%) had uveitis in cases with SON. Four eyes (16.6%) had subretinal fluid, and three eyes (12.5%) had cystoid macular edema.

CONCLUSIONS

Visual function can be preserved with early diagnosis and proper treatment. Accordingly, newly diagnosed patients with ON and uveitis should undergo syphilitic investigation in routine practice.

[Ocular syphilis, the rise of a forgotten disease: Retrospective study of 18 cases diagnosed at Amiens University Hospital]

OBJECTIVES

A disturbing resurgence of syphilis has been observed in the past few years. Ocular involvement of syphilis is infrequent. The goal of our study was to analyze the demographic data and clinical features and to analyze visual outcomes in cases of ocular syphilis at Amiens UH between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This descriptive, observational, single-center study included a retrospective cohort of patients who were diagnosed with ocular syphilis. The data collected were demographic data (age, sex and sexual orientation), history of risky sexual behavior, HIV status and potential co-infections, stage of syphilis, chief complaint, initial and final logMAR visual acuity, biomicroscopic examination of the anterior segment, dilatated fundus examination, extraocular clinical manifestations and treatment initiated.

RESULTS

Twenty-four eyes of eighteen patients (17 men and 1 woman) with a mean age of 48±12 were included in the study. 9 patients were homosexual, and 9 were heterosexual. A history of risky sexual behavior was noted in 6 patients (33.3%), and 4 patients (22%) were HIV positive. 2 patients (11.1%) had primary syphilis, 14 patients (77.7%) had secondary syphilis and 2 patients (11.1%) had tertiary syphilis. All patients were symptomatic, and vision loss was the main ophthalmologic symptom. The mean initial visual acuity was -0.55±0.56 logMAR, and the final visual acuity was 0.04±0.07 logMAR. Posterior uveitis was the predominant type of involvement (42%), and 9 patients presented with neurosyphilis. 11 patients (61.1%) showed extraocular clinical manifestations. 9 patients (50%) received subcutaneous ceftriaxone 2g, 6 patients (33.3%) received daily intravenous benzylpenicillin G, 2.4 million IU, and 3 patients (16.6%) were treated with oral doxycycline 200mg.

CONCLUSION

Ocular syphilis remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge because of the various ocular manifestations it provokes. Since this pathology can result in severe damage, every clinician who diagnoses uveitis should consider the possibility of syphilis so as to avoid any delay in treatment. Even though ocular syphilis remains a rare clinical entity, it is a potentially devastating infection.

Ocular syphilis

Multiple studies around the world suggest that syphilis is re-emerging. Ocular syphilis - with a wide range of presentations, most of which are subtypes of uveitis - has become an increasingly common cause of ocular inflammation over the past 20 years. Its rising incidence, diagnostic complexity, and manifestations that have only recently been characterized make ocular syphilis relevant from the public health, clinical, and scientific perspectives. We review the demographics, epidemiology, clinical features, ocular imaging findings, diagnosis, and medical management of this condition.

Ocular syphilis - a case series of four patients

Ocular manifestations of syphilis with visual impairment symptoms may occur already at the stage of secondary syphilis. They may also be the only manifestation of syphilis and mimic other diseases of the eye. Therefore, in all patients with uveitis, optic neuritis, optic atrophy, acute ocular muscle paresis, or loss of visual acuity, syphilis infection should be ruled out, even if the medical history does not initially raise suspicion. Ocular involvement should be treated as neurosyphilis. Delayed diagnosis and inadequate therapy are often associated with irreversible consequences for the affected patient. As with any syphilis infection, HIV infection should be considered and excluded, especially in the case of ocular manifestations.