Adaptive Optics Imaging to Analyze the Photoreceptor Layer Reconstitution in Acute Syphilitic Posterior Placoid Chorioretinopathy.

Acute posterior syphilitic placoid chorioretinopathy (ASPPC) is a rare ocular manifestation of syphilis characterized by outer retinal layers involvement and drop in visual acuity. The current work documents outer retinal layer involvement in this pathology and their reconstitution with treatment by means of adaptive optics (AO). Three eyes of two patients together with four controls eyes were included in the study. Patients underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) scan centered on fovea, where vessel density (VD) and vessel perfusion (VP) were calculated. AO images centered on fovea were acquired and cone density (CD) and cone spacing (CS) were measured and compared to control group. Multimodal imaging was performed at presentation, at 10 days, and at 2-month follow-up. All eyes improved in visual acuity, with reconstitution in outer retinal layers at 2-month follow-up. Overall choriocapillary layer VD and VP improved. AO imaging was able to identify outer retinal alterations at presentation and at follow-ups, with improvement in tissue architecture. CD and CS was respectively lower and greater than controls at all follow-ups and improved within patients at the 2-month follow-up. In conclusion, AO was able to document outer retinal alterations in ASPPC at presentation and improvement over the follow-up, representing a tool to study photoreceptor layer involvement in this pathology.

Spectrum of Syphilitic Chorioretinitis and Its Evolution Based on Multimodal Imaging.

PURPOSE: To describe the different phenotypes of syphilitic chorioretinitis (SCR) and its clinical features in multimodal imaging (MI). METHODS: Complete ophthalmological examination and MI including spectral domain optic coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and fluorescein angiography (FA) were performed at diagnosis and during follow-up in patients diagnosed with SCR. RESULTS: 17 eyes of 10 patients were included. Clinical phenotypes included acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinopathy (ASPPC), syphilitic outer retinitis (SOR) and punctate inner retinitis (PIR). Disruption of outer retinal layers were visible in all patients in SD-OCT. Inner retinal layers were only affected in PIR. FAF revealed macular hyperautofluorescence in all patients. FA showed maintained hyperfluorescence in ASPPC and SOR. CONCLUSIONS: ASPPC, SOR and PIR are different phenotypes of syphilitic chorioretinitis and present common features in SD-OCT and FAF. MI provides useful information to help the clinician during diagnosis and follow-up of these entities.

Case Report: Bilateral Choroidal Neovascular Membranes in a Patient With a Delayed Diagnosis of Acute Syphilitic Posterior Placoid Chorioretinopathy.

We report the case of a 78-year old man with a delayed diagnosis of syphilis and an advanced phenotype of acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinopathy after receiving 5 months of high dose steroids prior to anti-treponemal treatment. Bilateral choroidal neovascular membranes were present at the time of diagnosis and were successfully treated with intravitreal aflibercept, following completion of anti-treponemal therapy.

Acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinopathy: An infectious or autoimmune disease?

PURPOSE: To report a case of acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinopathy (ASPPC) that demonstrated partial resolution with immunosuppressive therapy secondary to a misdiagnosis as Behçet's disease followed by a relapse which was successfully treated with the appropriate treatment. OBSERVATIONS: A 34-year-old female patient presented to our service with complaints of decreased vision in the left eye (OS). She initially developed similar symptoms seven months prior to presentation and was diagnosed as Behçet's disease based on the clinical picture of papillitis, vasculitis and placoid chorioretinitis in the posterior pole of OS. She was started on daily oral prednisone 60 mg and weekly methotrexate 10mg by her rheumatologist. The patient's ocular symptoms improved one month prior to presentation with resolution of the placoid lesion but persistence of vasculitis and papillitis. At that time, the dose of the prednisone was decreased to 30 mg which resulted in a relapse of the placoid chorioretinal lesions and worsened visual acuity at the time of presentation to us. Extensive laboratory workup demonstrated positive serology for syphilis. A diagnosis of syphilitic placoid chorioretinitis was made and the patient was treated with intravenous penicillin G for 2 weeks. The vitritis, papillitis, and placoid chorioretinitis resolved along with improvement in vision following the treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPORTANCE: Ocular findings in syphilis are heterogeneous and may mimic variety of ocular diseases. ASPPC is a rare ocular manifestation of syphilis and its natural course and underlying pathophysiology is not well understood. However, irrespective of the underlying mechanism of the disease, all patients with ASPPC should receive treatment to prevent recurrence and long-term functional damage.

Angiography and En Face Optical Coherence Tomography Findings in Acute Syphilitic Posterior Placoid Chorioretinopathy.

Acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinopathy (ASPPC) is one of the rarest ocular manifestations of syphilis. The pathophysiology of this entity is still unknown. We report the outer retinal findings on en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the alteration of choriocapillaris flow findings on OCT angiography in a patient with ASPPC at the time of presentation, after penicillin treatment completion and during follow-up.