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Related Concept Videos

Sexually Transmitted Infections01:26

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
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Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis

Endocarditis can present various clinical features depending on the causative organism and the patient's underlying health conditions. Initially, the clinical features of infective endocarditis develop gradually, presenting with nonspecific symptoms that can be easily mistaken for other illnesses.General SymptomsEarly symptoms of infective endocarditis are fever, chills, weakness, malaise, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms reflect the systemic nature of the infection and the body's...
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Genital Herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection primarily caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), though herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is increasingly implicated in genital infections, particularly among younger populations. Transmission occurs mainly through sexual contact, with asymptomatic viral shedding serving as a major route of spread. This characteristic makes HSV-2 difficult to control at a population level, as individuals may unknowingly transmit the virus even in the...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever01:26

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
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Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Technique of Conjunctival Biopsy and Direct Immunofluorescence for Diagnosing Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid
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Technique of Conjunctival Biopsy and Direct Immunofluorescence for Diagnosing Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid

Published on: June 17, 2025

Secondary Syphilis With Concomitant Bullous Pemphigoid: A Case Report.

Subi Rijal1, Deekshanta Sitaula1, Madhu Gyawalee1

  • 1Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Nepal, pahs.edu.np.

Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine
|June 22, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Syphilis can rarely mimic bullous pemphigoid (BP), causing a diagnostic challenge. This case shows BP persisting after syphilis treatment, indicating syphilis can trigger a separate autoimmune blistering disease.

Keywords:
bullous pemphigoidbullous syphilissecondary syphilisthe great mimicker

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Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
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Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering

Published on: October 12, 2012

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Last Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Technique of Conjunctival Biopsy and Direct Immunofluorescence for Diagnosing Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid
05:05

Technique of Conjunctival Biopsy and Direct Immunofluorescence for Diagnosing Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid

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Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
12:23

Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering

Published on: October 12, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Secondary syphilis can present with unusual mucocutaneous manifestations.
  • Bullous eruptions are a rareしかし significant presentation of secondary syphilis.
  • Autoimmune blistering diseases like bullous pemphigoid (BP) share similar clinical features.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a unique case of bullous pemphigoid co-occurring with secondary syphilis.
  • To highlight the diagnostic challenges in differentiating syphilis-induced bullous lesions from true bullous pemphigoid.
  • To investigate the relationship between syphilis infection and the development of autoimmune blistering disease.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical presentation of a 52-year-old woman with pruritic, scaly palmoplantar eruptions and bullae.
  • Diagnostic workup including serology (VDRL, TPHA) and skin biopsy with direct immunofluorescence (DIF).
  • Therapeutic interventions: benzathine penicillin, followed by doxycycline and prednisolone, with differential response monitoring.

Main Results:

  • Serology confirmed syphilis (VDRL 1:16, TPHA positive).
  • Biopsy and DIF established a diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid.
  • Penicillin treatment resolved syphilis lesions but not bullae; doxycycline and prednisolone resolved bullous eruptions.
  • Syphilis markers decreased 8-fold, indicating effective syphilis treatment, yet BP persisted.

Conclusions:

  • Secondary syphilis can rarely manifest as bullous eruptions, mimicking bullous pemphigoid.
  • This case demonstrates bullous pemphigoid persisting independently despite successful syphilis treatment.
  • Syphilis may act as a trigger for a self-sustaining autoimmune blistering disease, distinct from syphilis-induced lesions.