Visual Organ Lesion in Secondary Syphilis

Introduction. Syphilitic lesion of visual organ is systematically reported in both modern domestic and foreign literature. The largest number of publications is devoted to vision pathology in secondary syphilis, namely syphilitic uveitis. The problem of etiological diagnosis and adequate treatment of this pathology is still relevant. Objective. To identify difficulties in diagnosis and treatment, as well as to describe outcomes depending on the timing of treatment initiation and its methods based on own clinical experience. Results and discussion. The number of clinical cases of syphilitic uveitis in secondary syphilis equal 3 was considered: 1 patient with syphilis without co-infection and 2 patients with HIV co-infection. The impact of following factors on outcomes of visual organ disease has been observed: 1) late detection of syphilis as an etiological factor of uveitis; 2) precipitating influence of comorbid HIV-infection; 3) the use of intramuscular rather than intravenous injection of antibiotic in the treatment of syphilis. Conclusions. 1. All patients with this ophthalmological pathology should be examined for syphilis and HIV-infection taking into consideration high incidence of syphilis as a cause of uveitis and HIV-infection as a precipitating factor. 2. Examination for the presence of infections should be performed first, before prescribing treatment by an ophthalmologist. 3. Syphilis treatment in the presence of ophthalmological pathology should be carried out only intravenously. © 2024, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved.