Uveitis heralding previously unknown luetic and HIV infection. Syphilitic uveitis in an Italian referral center.

PURPOSE This study was conducted to determine the incidence of luetic uveitis in the last seven years at our uveitis center and to describe the characteristics and the role of uveitis in the diagnosis of syphilitic infection with or without unknown HIV infection. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed syphilitic uveitis in patients observed at our center between 2004 and 2010. The diagnosis was based on the serological evidence for syphilis, uveitis, exclusion of other etiologies. All patients had HIV testing. RESULTS We describe 14 new cases of luetic uveitis: 6 co-infected with previously unknown HIV-infection had panuveitis, while the most common presentation in HIV-negative patients was posterior uveitis. CONCLUSIONS Syphilis has been recognized as reemerging disease. The ocular inflammation can be the first symptom of syphilis. This study underlines the importance of a prompt and correct diagnosis of this ocular disease.