title: Atypical presentation of syphilis in an HTLV-I infected patient.
abstract: We report the case of a 44 year-old female, who presented a long-lasting, clinically atypical, secondary syphilis ("malignant syphilis") in the right foot, which started six months before medical evaluation. The patient had a serological diagnosis of HTLV-I infection and syphilis two years before the onset of the skin lesions, following a blood donation. As she believed she was allergic to penicillin, she initially received sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim, without any improvement of the clinical picture. After failure of this first treatment regimen, she was given penicillin, which promoted complete healing of the lesion. We found evidence that infection by HTLV-I is capable of modifying the clinical course of secondary syphilis.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dimas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carnaúba
authors.forename: Achiléa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brites
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013591:Syphilis, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine