SYNDROME OF NONSYPHILITIC INTERSTITIAL KERATITIS AND VESTIBULOAUDITORY SYMPTOMS

TLDR

This syndrome involves interstitial keratitis accompanied by vertigo, tinnitus, and often profound deafness, differs from congenital syphilis-associated keratitis, occurs in patients without syphilis signs, and its etiology remains unknown. The study aims to describe a previously underrecognized clinical syndrome. The authors report four new cases of the syndrome, with symmetric interstitial keratitis and subsequent severe vertigo, nausea, tinnitus, deafness, and rotary nystagmus occurring two months after ocular symptoms, adding to the single previously documented case.

Abstract

The purpose of this communication is to describe a clinical syndrome that, to my knowledge, is not generally recognized. I have been able to find only 1 instance of it previously reported in the literature.¹The present report presents 4 cases. The syndrome consists of an interstitial keratitis associated with vertigo, tinnitus and usually profound deafness. The interstitial keratitis differs in its course and manifestations from that seen with congenital syphilis and occurs in persons in whom there are no signs or symptoms of syphilis. The cause of the syndrome is at present unknown. The case previously reported¹was that of a man aged 26 whose initial complaints were photophobia, epiphora, pain and redness of the eyes. Examination revealed that these were due to a symmetric interstitial keratitis. Two months after the onset of ocular symptoms there developed severe vertigo, nausea, ringing in the ears, deafness, rotary nystagmus