Syphilis mimicking Reiter's syndrome in an HIV-positive patient

Abstract

A 38-year-old man with HIV infection presented with panuveitis, urethritis, and a papulosquamous eruption on his palms and soles. Careful physical and laboratory examination led to the diagnosis of syphilitic keratoderma, uveitis, and balanitis. The patient was successfully treated with penicillin and prednisone therapy. Because the initial presentation was difficult to distinguish from the symptoms of Reiter's syndrome, a high degree of clinical suspicion was required to accurately diagnose syphilis, a curable and potentially fatal disease.