Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 7, 2026

Ex Vivo Infection of Human Lymphoid Tissue and Female Genital Mucosa with Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 and Histoculture
Published on: October 12, 2018
Secondary syphilis with impetiginized lesions in untreated HIV infection
Annika P Schnell1, Britta F Zecher2, Stefan Schmiedel2
1I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. a.schnell@uke.de.
Abstract:
Syphilis may present with atypical cutaneous manifestations in immunodeficient patients and is easily misdiagnosed. We report a 39-year-old man with untreated HIV infection presenting with widespread non-pruritic lesions initially mistaken for impetigo contagiosa. Serology confirmed secondary syphilis with Lues maligna and palmoplantar hyperkeratosis (Clavi syphilitici). This case highlights the importance of considering syphilis in patients with atypical skin lesions and HIV-related immunodeficiency.
Related Concept Videos
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Genital Herpes
Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis
Herpes
Immunodeficiency Diseases
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
Cryptococcal Meningitis
