Intravitreal Injection of Bevacizumab in a Case of Occlusive Retinal Vasculitis Accompanied by Syphilitic Intraocular Inflammation

Abstract

Background: We report a rare case of syphilitic intraocular inflammation with occlusive retinal vasculitis treated with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (IVB) in addition to conventional therapy for syphilis. Case: A 24-year-old woman who complained floaters in both her eyes showed occlusive retinal vasculitis OU. According to the high titer of the Treponema antigen and characteristic cutaneous eruption, she was diagnosed as secondary syphilis. Observation: She was treated with oral amoxicillin and retinal photocoagulation OU. Then, administration of prednisolone was required to the intraocular inflammations considered as Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions. IVB was also performed toward exacerbated retinal neovascularization and showed transient effects. Conclusion: We experienced a rare case of occlusive retinal vasculitis accompanied by syphilis intraocular inflammation. IVB was considered to be effective as an adjunctive therapy for inflammatory neovascularizations.

Keywords

• Bevacizumab
• Occlusive retinal vasculitis
• Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions
• Treponema
• Syphilis