Abstract
Purpose: To report intravitreal triamcinolone (IVTA)-induced unmasking of ocular syphilis. Design: Two case reports. Methods: A homosexual, diabetic male with macular edema treated with bilateral IVTA and a male with bilateral panuveitis and macular edema who underwent vitrectomy and IVTA. Both developed occlusive retinal vasculitis and panuveitis postinjection. Syphilis serology was positive although both denied previous symptoms. Results: Intramuscular penicillin lead to resolution of inflammation but both sustained severe loss of vision. Cause-and-effect relationship demonstrated between IVTA and reactivation of syphilis. Conclusions: Intravitreal corticosteroid can modulate the immune response to intraocular syphilis; vigilance is required, particularly in high-risk patients.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 213-215 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Ocular immunology and inflammation |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2009 |
Keywords
- uveitis
- retinal vasculitis
- ocular syphilis
- diabetes
- intravitreal triamcinolone injection