Spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings in acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis.

Authors

• Bryn M Burkholder
• Theresa G Leung
• Trucian A Ostheimer
• Nicholas J Butler
• Jennifer E Thorne
• James P Dunn

Publication/Presentation Date

1-27-2014

Abstract

BACKGROUND: We describe the spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings in three patients with acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis (ASPPC). The SD-OCT images demonstrate the pathologic changes in ASPPC with a high level of anatomic detail and may provide information about the pathophysiology of the disease.

FINDINGS: We report a series of three consecutive patients seen at the Wilmer Eye Institute in 2012 and 2013 who presented with clinical and laboratory findings consistent with a diagnosis of unilateral ASPPC. Two of the three patients had HIV co-infection with good immune recovery. SD-OCT images from their initial (pre-treatment) presentation demonstrated thickening and hyperreflective nodularity of the choroid-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) complex, with focal disruption of the overlying photoreceptor inner segment-outer segment junction in the areas corresponding to the retinal lesions seen on clinical examination. These changes improved with intravenous antibiotic treatment over a 3-month period of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: SD-OCT imaging in ASPPC demonstrates reversible, focal thickening, and nodularity of the RPE with disruption of the overlying photoreceptor inner segment-outer segment junction. We believe that these SD-OCT images support the concept that ASPPC involves an inflammatory process at the level of the choroid-RPE with resultant structural and functional changes in the retinal photoreceptors. Further study with OCT imaging may be helpful in better understanding this disease.

Volume

4

Issue

1

First Page

2

Last Page

2

ISSN

1869-5760

Published In/Presented At

Burkholder, B. M., Leung, T. G., Ostheimer, T. A., Butler, N. J., Thorne, J. E., & Dunn, J. P. (2014). Spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings in acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis. Journal of ophthalmic inflammation and infection, 4(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/1869-5760-4-2

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

24468306

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article