Syphilitic palmoplantar keratoderma and ocular disease: a rare combination in an HIV-positive patient

Abstract

Approximately 349 million individuals worldwide are actively infected with syphilis. The incidence of syphilis in North America and Europe is low but has been rising in recent years. The rate of concomitant infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis also has been increasing. Concomitant infection with HIV can cause syphilis to have atypical characteristics. These atypical findings can involve the skin as well as organs that rarely are affected in HIV-negative individuals such as the eyes. We present a case of syphilis causing palmoplantar keratoderma and ocular disease in a patient with HIV infection, and discuss the differences in diagnosis and treatment of patients with both diseases.