Nail Changes in Secondary Syphilis: A Report of 3 Cases and Review of Literature.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Nail changes have been described in syphilis in all stages. However, they can be subtle and easy to miss. At the same time, they are valuable indicators towards underlying pathology as nail is a useful "window to systemic disease." Onychoscopic features of nail syphilis have not been described in detail.

Case report

We describe 3 patients (n = 60 nails) with secondary syphilis with involvement of 29/60 (48.3%) nails. Most common clinical nail findings were onychorrhexis (13, 37%), followed by distal onycholysis (10, 28%). Other findings included subungual hyperkeratosis, onychomadesis, Beau's lines, nail plate atrophy, paronychia, and periungual ulceration. Onychoscopic involvement was seen in 32/60 (53.3%) nails. Features observed on onychoscopy were ony

SUBMITTER: Grover C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12263161 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature