title: Non-specific positive test results to syphilis in dermatological diseases.
abstract: Sera from 3028 patients attending a dermatological clinic were examined by the fluorescent treponemal antibody (FTA) test, the fluorescent antibody-absorbed (FTA-ABS) test, the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test, and Kolmer's test. Eleven cases of late syphilis were found. Sera from 63 (2.08%) of the remaining 3017 patients showed non-specific results; these were found more frequently in patients with pyodermas, neoplasms, acne, mycoses, crural ulceration, and psoriasis than in those with other diseases. No non-specific results were observed in patients with bullous skin diseases and only a few in patients with viral skin diseases and chronic lupus erythematosus. The test producing the most non-specific results was the FTA test, followed by the FTA-ABS test, the VDRL test, and Kolmer's test.
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D014209:Treponema Immobilization Test; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial