Ocular and oto-syphilis: not a thing of the past

Excerpt

A 50-year-old male was admitted with mono-lateral visual deficit. Bilateral hearing loss and an elevated plaque type (Fig. 1a) lesion on his tongue had been present for 3 months. Clinical findings included hepato-splenomegaly and a light pink trunk macular rash. Left papillitis and vitreitis, visual acuity 4/10, plus bilateral sensorineural hearing deficit (Fig. 2a) were diagnosed. Abnormal laboratory tests evidenced: sedimentation rate of 41 mm for the first hour, C-reactive protein 1.5 mg/dL, aminotransferase 133 IU/L, gamma-glutamyltransferase 62 IU/L, Rapid Reaginic Test and Treponemal Pallidum Particle Agglutination positive: titer 1:32 and 1:5120, respectively, Fluorescent Treponemal Antibodies reactive, HBs antigen, HBc antibodies IgM and IgG positive. HIV and HCV antibodies tested both negative. The patient reported engaging in unsafe sex 5 months prior.

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