Syphilitic Punctate Inner Retinitis in Immunocompetent Gay Men

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the features of an unusual syphilitic uveitis syndrome in a cluster of homosexual patients. Design: Retrospective case series. Participants: Five consecutive patients diagnosed with syphilitic retinitis in our Melbourne uveitis clinic over a period of 8 months. Methods: The case notes of patients diagnosed with syphilitic retinitis were reviewed and the clinical features are presented and discussed. Main Outcome Measures: Description of retinal findings and documentation of any associated sequelae. Results: All patients were homosexual men. Two were human immunodeficiency virus positive. None of the patients had been previously diagnosed with syphilis, although 3 present..