Spirochetes in the aqueous humor in seronegative ocular syphilis. Persistence after penicillin therapy.

Abstract

A young woman with a gradual onset of blurred vision was found to have a bitemporal hemianopia. It was possible that these symptoms represented an early optochiasmatic arachnoiditis. Inflammatory eye changes with bilateral neuroretinitis and anterior uveitis were then noted. A protracted course of exacerbations and remissions occurred during a one-year course of systemic steroid therapy. After a reactive fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test was found, spirochetes were demonstrated in the aqueous humor. The patient was then given more than nine million units of long-acting penicillin. One month later, at a second paracentesis, spirochetes were again found. These organisms were motile on darkfield examination, and stained with fluorescein tagged anti-Treponema pallidumglobulin.