title: Atypical forms of syphilis: two cases.
abstract: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. A chancre usually develops initially. Organ involvement and neurological complications may occur, sometimes several years after the initial exposure. We managed two patients with syphilis responsible for joint or neurological manifestations, diagnosed in 2008. One patient presented with oligoarthritis involving the knees and right elbow, coinciding with a maculopapular and pustular eruption. In the other patient, meningoradiculitis involving the T8, T9, and T10 metameres prompted a test for Lyme disease, which was weakly positive, leading to evaluation for false-positivity due to a cross-reaction. Neither patient was infected with the HIV.
authors.affiliation: Service de Rhumatologie, CHU-Hôpitaux de Rouen, & Inserm, U905, IFRMP23, Institut de Biologie Clinique, Rouen, France. avenel_gilles@hotmail.fr
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avenel
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Goëb
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abboud
authors.forename: Tassadit
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ait-Abdesselam
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vittecoq
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology; D020852:Lyme Neuroborreliosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017444:Skin Diseases, Papulosquamous / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D013591:Syphilis, Cutaneous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine