Syphilis mimicking Reiter's syndrome in an HIV-positive patient.
A 38-year-old man with HIV infection presented with panuveitis, urethritis, and a papulosquamous eruption on his palms and soles. Careful physical and laboratory examination led to the diagnosis of syphilitic keratoderma, uveitis, and balanitis. The patient was successfully treated with penicillin and prednisone therapy. Because the initial presentation was difficult to distinguish from the symptoms of Reiter's syndrome, a high degree of clinical suspicion was required to accurately diagnose syphilis, a curable and potentially fatal disease.
Kishimoto
Mitsumasa
M
Division of Rheumatology, NYU School of Medicine/Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, New York; Department of Public Health, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.. Electronic address: kishimotomitsumasa@yahoo.co.jp.
Mor
Adam
A
Division of Rheumatology, NYU School of Medicine/Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, New York.
Abeles
Aryeh M
AM
Division of Rheumatology, NYU School of Medicine/Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, New York.
Solomon
Gary
G
Division of Rheumatology, NYU School of Medicine/Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, New York.
Pillinger
Michael H
MH
Division of Rheumatology, NYU School of Medicine/Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, New York.
Lee
Maryann J
MJ
Department of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D001446:Balanitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012074:Remission Induction; D013591:Syphilis, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D014605:Uveitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D011241:Prednisone