Onychoptosis: a forgotten sign in syphilis infection

Ahmad A Al-Awwad; Omar Abdelmaksoud; Abdulmawla Albirini

doi:10.4103/ajm.ajm_215_19

Avicenna Journal of Medicine, Inhaltsverzeichnis

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Avicenna J Med 2020; 10(03): 122-124
DOI: 10.4103/ajm.ajm_215_19

Case Report

Onychoptosis: a forgotten sign in syphilis infection

Ahmad A Al-Awwad

Department of Neurology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA

,

Omar Abdelmaksoud

Department of Neurology, Benha University, Benha, Egypt

,

Abdulmawla Albirini

Department of Neurology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA

› Institutsangaben
Verantwortlicher Herausgeber dieser Rubrik:

Abstract

Onychoptosis is the periodic shedding and falling of one or more nails, in whole or part. It can be seen after fever, trauma, adverse reaction to medications, and in systemic illnesses including syphilis (syphilitic onychia). We report a case of 38-year-old man presented with subacute bilateral retrobulbar optic neuritis. Physical examination revealed diffuse onychoptosis which lead into the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. Symptoms significantly improved with appropriate treatment with intravenous penicillin G for 14 days.

Keywords

Neurosyphilis - onychoptosis - syphilis - syphilitic onychia

Volltext

Referenzen

References
1 Macleod JM. Syphilitic onychia. Proc R Soc Med 1910; 3: 59-60
2 Dourmishev LA, Dourmishev AL. Syphilis: Uncommon presentations in adults. Clin Dermatol 2005; 23: 555-64
3 Peeling RW, Mabey D, Kamb ML, Chen XS, Radolf JD, Benzaken AS. Syphilis. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2017; 3: 17073
4 Ghanem KG, Ram S, Rice PA. The modern epidemic of syphilis. N Engl J Med 2020; 382: 845-54
5 2018 STD Surveillance Report. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/2019/2018-STD-surveillance-report.html. [Last accessed on 2019 Oct 8]
6 Clark EG, Danbolt N. The Oslo study of the natural history of untreated syphilis; an epidemiologic investigation based on a restudy of the Boeck-Bruusgaard material; a review and appraisal. J Chronic Dis 1955; 2: 311-44
7 Hook 3rd EW, Marra CM. Acquired syphilis in adults. N Engl J Med 1992; 326: 1060-9
8 Mattei PL, Beachkofsky TM, Gilson RT, Wisco OJ. Syphilis: A reemerging infection. Am Fam Physician 2012; 86: 433-40
9 Workowski KA, Bolan GA. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2015. MMWR Recomm Rep 2015; 64: 1-137
10 Moradi A, Salek S, Daniel E, Gangaputra S, Ostheimer TA, Burkholder BM. et al. Clinical features and incidence rates of ocular complications in patients with ocular syphilis. Am J Ophthalmol 2015; 159: 334-43.e1
11 Oliver SE, Aubin M, Atwell L, Matthias J, Cope A, Mobley V. et al. Ocular syphilis – eight jurisdictions, United States, 2014–2015. MMWR 2016; 65: 1185-88
12 Baran R, Dawber R, Tosti A, Haneke E. A Text Atlas of Nail Disorders. London, UK: Martin Dunitz; 1996
13 Haneke E. Histopathology of the Nail: Onychopathology. 1st edition. Section: 4.4.1 CRC Press; 2017