abstract
- 2020 Sociedad Mexicana de Oftalmología.Introduction: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infectious disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. Ocular involvement usually occurs in secondary and tertiary syphilis, affecting either the anterior or posterior segment of the eye. Posterior uveitis is the most common manifestation of ocular syphilis. Acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis (ASPPC) is a recently described presentation of ocular syphilis characterized by a large, yellowish, circular or oval placoid lesion observed at the level of the retinal pigment epithelium in or near the macula. Case report: We describe the case of a 37-year-old male with bilateral sequential ASPPC. Our patient did not have a known history of syphilis infection and was under immunosuppressant treatment for psoriatic arthritis. He had bilateral, severe, sequential vision loss associated with the characteristic findings of ASPPC. Syphilis serology confirmed the diagnosis, and the patient underwent intravenous antibiotic treatment prescribed by a specialist in infectious diseases. He responded favorably to antibiotic therapy with marked vision improvement. Ophthalmologists should be aware of this characteristic presentation of ocular syphilis.