Título / Title

PSEUDO-RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA IN SYPHILIS: CASE REPORT

Introdução / Purpose

The objective of the study is to report a case of pseudo-retinitis pigmentosa in a patient with acquired syphilis.

Material e Método / Methods

Fundus image and fluorescent angiography were used in the morphological study of the retina. The visual field exam. Outpatient blood tests such as VDRL(Venereal Disease Research Laboratory)

Resultados / Results

A 29-year old, male, previously diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) presents with a fundus appearance similar to RP, but in an unusual pattern. Fundus image presents with a fundus diffuse change at the level of external layers, Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) without pigments. Fluorescent angiography revealed examination compatible with diffuse alteration of RPE. Normal visual field without peripheral alteration. Outpatient Blood Tests: Complete Normal Blood Count. VDRL 1/32. Anti - HIV negative.

Discussão e Conclusões / Conclusion

Retinitis pigmentosa, or retinal pigmentary dystrophy, is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of inherited retinal disorders characterized by diffuse progressive dysfunction of predominantly rod photoreceptors, with subsequent degeneration of cone photoreceptors, and RPE. The classic clinical triad of RP is arteriolar attenuation, retinal pigmentary changes (could be either hypopigmentation and/or hyperpigmentation in form of bone-spicule and pigment clumpings), and waxy disc pallor. There are no known risk factors for RP other than genetic predisposition. Other genetic disorders that cause retinal degeneration include gyrate atrophy, choroideremia, cone-rod dystrophy, cone dystrophy, and Leber congenital amaurosis. It is sometimes necessary to investigate infectious diseases, such as syphilis, that can mimic this condition, and to cause the pseudo-retinitis pigmentosa. The patient had a positive non-treponemal test, VDRL 1/32, was diagnostic with syphilis, and had improve with proper treatment. Syphilis is great imitator and must be considered in unusual presentations.

Palavras Chave

pseudo-retinitis pigmentosa; syphilis