BACKGROUND: To describe 4 patients with bilateral tonic pupils in neurosyphilis. CASES: Four young men had pupillary abnormalities, which involved irregular shapes, large sizes, tonic reactions, and vermiform movements of both pupils with light-near dissociation. Cholinergic supersensitivity defined bilateral tonic pupils. OBSERVATIONS: Neurosyphilis was diagnosed in these patients on the basis of ocular and laboratory findings. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral tonic pupils may be important as initial findings in neurosyphilis. We conclude that patients with bilateral tonic pupils should undergo serologic tests for syphilis.
BACKGROUND: To describe 4 patients with bilateral tonic pupils in neurosyphilis. CASES: Four young men had pupillary abnormalities, which involved irregular shapes, large sizes, tonic reactions, and vermiform movements of both pupils with light-near dissociation. Cholinergic supersensitivity defined bilateral tonic pupils. OBSERVATIONS: Neurosyphilis was diagnosed in these patients on the basis of ocular and laboratory findings. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral tonic pupils may be important as initial findings in neurosyphilis. We conclude that patients with bilateral tonic pupils should undergo serologic tests for syphilis.