[Syphilitic osteitis in an HIV-negative patient]

Abstract

Background: Secondary syphilis with skeletal involvement is rare; herein we report a case concerning an HIV-negative patient.

Patients and methods: During the course of secondary syphilis, a 28-year-old male homosexual, HIV-negative and with no medical history, presented intense and localized headaches persisting despite three weeks of antibiotic therapy. Bone scintigraphy revealed three bone lesions evocative of syphilitic osteitis, for which prolonged antibiotic therapy was instituted.

Discussion: Few cases of syphilitic osteitis have been described in the recent literature and these are linked to haematogenous diffusion of Treponema pallidum. Skeletal disease is suggested when febrile bone pain is present. Bone scintigraphy remains the best diagnostic tool and treatment comprises prolonged penicillin G or ceftriaxone.

Keywords: Bone scintigraphy; Immunocompetent; Immunocompétent; Osteitis; Ostéite; Scintigraphie osseuse; Secondary syphilis; Syphilis secondaire.