title: Clinicopathologic features, microvessel density, and immunohistochemical expression of ICAM-1 and VEGF in 15 cases of secondary syphilis with oral manifestations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have reported the clinical aspects of oral syphilis, but few papers have considered the involved immunoinflammatory mechanisms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the clinicopathologic features and expression of immunoinflammatory and vascular proteins in oral secondary syphilis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with oral secondary syphilis were included; histologic features were analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin-stained histologic slides and immunohistochemical reactions were performed against intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and CD34.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lesions presented as multiple plaques and ulcers mostly located on the tongue, lips, and palate. They were covered by a stratified epithelium of irregular thickness showing exocytosis associated with a subjacent plasma cell infiltrate arranged in perivascular and perineural patterns. ICAM-1 and VEGF were expressed on endothelial cells and leukocytes, and microvessel density was similar on the superficial and deep regions of the connective tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of immunoinflammatory and vascular proteins was intense, suggesting their participation on the pathogenesis of oral secondary syphilis.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Oral Pathology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: Ramoafop@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fábio Ramôa
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Student, School of Dentistry, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo José Souza
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Student, School of Dentistry, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renan Ferreira
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Natal
authors.affiliation: Director, Stomatology Department, AC Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio Abreu
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, AC Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clovis Antônio Lopes
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Graduate Student, Oral Pathology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alícia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rumayor
authors.affiliation: Professor, Stomatology, Estácio de Sá University, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Águida Maria Menezes Aguiar
authors.initials: ÁM
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Titular Professor and Head, Oral Pathology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Oslei Paes
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: de Almeida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1