title: Polyarthritis as the initial symptom of secondary syphilis: case report and review.
abstract: The differential diagnosis of the patient with acute polyarthritis is lengthy. We present the case of a young man with acute inflammation of the knees and ankles in whom a diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever was initially considered. The clinical course and laboratory findings suggested that secondary syphilis was also a likely etiology of his problem. We believe that in some patients with acute polyarthritis, secondary syphilis must be seriously considered as part of the differential diagnosis.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kazlow
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brandeis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications*