Work

Swept-Source Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography of a Vascularized Syphilitic Iris Lesion

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: PURPOSE: To describe the appearance and resolution of a vascularized iris nodule in a case of ocular syphilis with swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography (SS AS-OCT) imaging. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: A 73-year-old male with a history of ocular syphilis presented with anterior uveitis of the left eye characterized by mutton fat keratic precipitates, anterior chamber cells, hypopyon mixed with hemorrhage, and a vascularized iris nodule. SS AS-OCT similarly showed keratic precipitates, anterior chamber cells, and an iris lesion with anterior hyperreflectivity and shadowing. Systemic workup revealed a new syphilis infection with rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titer of 1:512. After completing a 14-day course of intravenous penicillin and topical steroid treatment, there was resolution of these ocular findings. CONCLUSION: Ocular syphilis should be considered on the differential diagnosis for vascularized iris lesions. Our case demonstrates SS-AS-OCT findings in this rare presentation of ocular syphilis.

Source: Ocular Immunology and Inflammation

DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2025.2514693

Authors: Saitiel Sandoval Gonzalez, Weilin Song, Joseph K. Privratsky, Jack Lemon, Edmund Tsui

Institution: University of California, Los Angeles

Language: English

Topic: Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: Research to Prevent Blindness