PURPOSE: Therapeutic decision-making in syphilitic corneal disease is discussed after seeing a patient with keratopathy from congenital syphilis. METHODS: Case report and review of the literature. RESULTS: Laboratory evaluation of our patient revealed a nonreactive serum rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test and a positive microhemagglutination assay-Treponema pallidum (MHA-TP) test. CONCLUSION: Any patient with residual interstitial keratopathy, especially if bilateral, should be suspected to have congenital syphilis if the patient or parents were ever treated for a sexually transmitted disease, if stigmata of congenital syphilis are present, or if childhood ocular inflammation occurred.
PURPOSE: Therapeutic decision-making in syphilitic corneal disease is discussed after seeing a patient with keratopathy from congenital syphilis. METHODS: Case report and review of the literature. RESULTS: Laboratory evaluation of our patient revealed a nonreactive serum rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test and a positive microhemagglutination assay-Treponema pallidum (MHA-TP) test. CONCLUSION: Any patient with residual interstitial keratopathy, especially if bilateral, should be suspected to have congenital syphilis if the patient or parents were ever treated for a sexually transmitted disease, if stigmata of congenital syphilis are present, or if childhood ocular inflammation occurred.
Authors: Bruce R Schackman; Christopher P Neukermans; Sandy N Nerette Fontain; Claudine Nolte; Patrice Joseph; Jean W Pape; Daniel W Fitzgerald Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2007-05 Impact factor: 11.069