Acquired lues (syphilis; acquired syphilis; lues venerea; malum venereum)

General: Causative agent, Treponema pallidum, usually transmitted sexually.

Ocular: Conjunctival chancroid; conjunctivitis; keratitis; 141e46b blepharitis; ptosis; iris atrophy; hippus; dacryocystitis; optic nerve atrophy; optic neuritis; periostitis; episcleritis; scleritis; nystagmus; uveitis; vitreous hemorrhages; paralysis of sixth nerve; papilledema; retinal hemorrhages; retinitis proliferans; oculogyric crisis; neuroretinitis; papilledema (associated with aseptic meningitis); diffuse or multifocal chorioretinitis; vertical supranuclear gaze palsy; Benedikt syndrome.

Clinical: Primary lesion associated with regional lymphadenopathy; secondary bacteremic stage associated with generalized mucocutaneous lesions; tertiary stage characterized by destructive mucocutaneous, musculoskeletal, or parenchymal lesions, aortitis, or central nervous system disease; syphilis and HIV infection often coexist in the same patient who experiences a higher incidence and greater severity of neurologic and ocular manifestations; a significant percentage of patients infected with HIV-I and T pallidum become seronegative to syphilis testing.

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