Mixed-pattern, essential syphilitic alopecia, uveitis, and papillitis in an immunocompetent patient with neurosyphilis
Syphilitic alopecia (SA) and ocular syphilis (OS) are rare manifestations of syphilis, typically reported together in immunocompromised patients. We present a unique case of mixed-pattern, essential, SA of the scalp and OS in the form of anterior uveitis in an otherwise immunocompetent, HIV-negativ...
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PAGEPress Publications
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Dermatology Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://www.pagepress.org/journals/dr/article/view/10371 |
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| author | Sumeetha Swaminathan Irina Lerman Kathleen Mannava Luca Zatreanu Anna De Benedetto |
| author_facet | Sumeetha Swaminathan Irina Lerman Kathleen Mannava Luca Zatreanu Anna De Benedetto |
| author_sort | Sumeetha Swaminathan |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Syphilitic alopecia (SA) and ocular syphilis (OS) are rare manifestations of syphilis, typically reported together in immunocompromised patients. We present a unique case of mixed-pattern, essential, SA of the scalp and OS in the form of anterior uveitis in an otherwise immunocompetent, HIV-negative, 46-year-old female. Briefly, the patient initially presented with sudden-onset scalp hair loss that was initially diagnosed as atypical alopecia areata but failed to respond to typical alopecia areata-directed therapy. Concurrently, the patient developed ocular and neurologic symptoms, and the diagnosis of syphilis was rendered based on the constellation of clinical findings and cerebrospinal fluid/serologic testing. Syphilis-directed therapy resulted in the reversal of ocular and neurologic symptoms, as well as rapid scalp hair regrowth. This case highlights the importance of considering diagnosis of syphilis in the differential diagnosis for atypical alopecia.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9dd9ab99ab4f46bcae89e76bf7f87c28 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2036-7392 2036-7406 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Dermatology Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-9dd9ab99ab4f46bcae89e76bf7f87c282025-08-20T02:50:27ZengPAGEPress PublicationsDermatology Reports2036-73922036-74062025-07-0110.4081/dr.2025.10371Mixed-pattern, essential syphilitic alopecia, uveitis, and papillitis in an immunocompetent patient with neurosyphilisSumeetha Swaminathan0https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5817-1744Irina Lerman1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1410-7856Kathleen Mannava2Luca Zatreanu3Anna De Benedetto4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6293-435XDepartment of Dermatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester (NY)Department of Dermatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester (NY); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester (NY)Department of Dermatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester (NY); Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester (NY)Department of Ophthalmology, Rochester Regional Health, Rochester (NY)Department of Dermatology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester (NY) Syphilitic alopecia (SA) and ocular syphilis (OS) are rare manifestations of syphilis, typically reported together in immunocompromised patients. We present a unique case of mixed-pattern, essential, SA of the scalp and OS in the form of anterior uveitis in an otherwise immunocompetent, HIV-negative, 46-year-old female. Briefly, the patient initially presented with sudden-onset scalp hair loss that was initially diagnosed as atypical alopecia areata but failed to respond to typical alopecia areata-directed therapy. Concurrently, the patient developed ocular and neurologic symptoms, and the diagnosis of syphilis was rendered based on the constellation of clinical findings and cerebrospinal fluid/serologic testing. Syphilis-directed therapy resulted in the reversal of ocular and neurologic symptoms, as well as rapid scalp hair regrowth. This case highlights the importance of considering diagnosis of syphilis in the differential diagnosis for atypical alopecia. https://www.pagepress.org/journals/dr/article/view/10371Syphilitic alopeciaocular syphilistreponema pallidumneurosyphilissexually transmitted infection |
| spellingShingle | Sumeetha Swaminathan Irina Lerman Kathleen Mannava Luca Zatreanu Anna De Benedetto Mixed-pattern, essential syphilitic alopecia, uveitis, and papillitis in an immunocompetent patient with neurosyphilis Dermatology Reports Syphilitic alopecia ocular syphilis treponema pallidum neurosyphilis sexually transmitted infection |
| title | Mixed-pattern, essential syphilitic alopecia, uveitis, and papillitis in an immunocompetent patient with neurosyphilis |
| title_full | Mixed-pattern, essential syphilitic alopecia, uveitis, and papillitis in an immunocompetent patient with neurosyphilis |
| title_fullStr | Mixed-pattern, essential syphilitic alopecia, uveitis, and papillitis in an immunocompetent patient with neurosyphilis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mixed-pattern, essential syphilitic alopecia, uveitis, and papillitis in an immunocompetent patient with neurosyphilis |
| title_short | Mixed-pattern, essential syphilitic alopecia, uveitis, and papillitis in an immunocompetent patient with neurosyphilis |
| title_sort | mixed pattern essential syphilitic alopecia uveitis and papillitis in an immunocompetent patient with neurosyphilis |
| topic | Syphilitic alopecia ocular syphilis treponema pallidum neurosyphilis sexually transmitted infection |
| url | https://www.pagepress.org/journals/dr/article/view/10371 |
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