Congenital Lues

Congenital Lues (Congenital Syphilis)

General: Caused by intrauterine transplacental infection of fetus by Treponema pallidum (see Syphilis).

Ocular: Conjunctivitis; keratitis; dacryocystitis; optic nerve atrophy; periostitis; anisocoria; Argyll Robertson pupil; retinal degeneration; nystagmus; gumma of conjunctiva, eyelids, and orbit; paresis of extraocular muscles; secondary glaucoma; uveitis; iridoschisis.

Clinical: Cutaneous and mucous membrane lesions; periostitis; anemia; hepatosplenomegaly; ectodermal defects; central nervous system involvement; gummatous lesions.

Braunwald E, et al. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 11th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1987.

Foss AJ, et al. Interstitial keratitis and iridoschisis in congenital syphilis. J Clin Neuro-Ophthalmol 1992; 12:167-170.

Fraunfelder FT, Roy FH. Current Ocular Therapy, 5th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 2000.

Magalini SI, Scrascia E. Dictionary of Medical Syndromes, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott, 1981.

Salvador F, et al. Unilateral iridoschisis associated with syphilitic interstitial keratitis and glaucoma. Ann Ophthalmol 1993; 25:328-329.