Ocular syphilis mimicking Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome: a diagnostic dilemma

Mahmoud Abdelnabi; Afrina Rimu; Sabrina Siddiqui; Barbara Mora; Cynthia Guerin

doi:10.1080/08998280.2023.2187184

Ocular syphilis mimicking Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome: a diagnostic dilemma

Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2023 Mar 15;36(3):380-382. doi: 10.1080/08998280.2023.2187184. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Mahmoud Abdelnabi¹, Afrina Rimu¹, Sabrina Siddiqui¹, Barbara Mora¹, Cynthia Guerin²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Lubbock, Texas.
² Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas.

Abstract

This case demonstrates the dilemma in the diagnosis of ocular syphilis, as it can mimic many other ocular conditions where initial steroid therapy might complicate the disease course and can worsen the infection. Also, it represents an example of anchoring bias, where a provisional diagnosis resulted in unnecessary treatment that would have worsened her clinical outcomes.

Keywords: Corticosteroids; Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome; masquerader; neurosyphilis; ocular syphilis; penicillin.

Publication types

Case Reports