PANCYTOPENIA: A RARE PRESENTATION OF SYPHILIS
INTRODUCTION: Syphilis is caused by spirochete Treponema pallidum. A common mode of transmission is via sexual contact and mainly targeting high-risk populations such as those with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and men who have sex with men (MSM). It has a wide range of presentations based on the fou...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Khyber Medical University
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Khyber Medical University Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.kmuj.kmu.edu.pk/article/view/20661 |
| _version_ | 1797807349655666688 |
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| author | Aliena Badshah Syed Osama Husain Zoia Ehsan Khattak |
| author_facet | Aliena Badshah Syed Osama Husain Zoia Ehsan Khattak |
| author_sort | Aliena Badshah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | INTRODUCTION: Syphilis is caused by spirochete Treponema pallidum. A common mode of transmission is via sexual contact and mainly targeting high-risk populations such as those with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and men who have sex with men (MSM). It has a wide range of presentations based on the four main overlapping clinical stages. Due to the lack of vaccines to prevent syphilis, prompt diagnosis and management of infected persons are warranted to reduce disease burden and its clinical effects.
CASE PRESENTATION: We present an unorthodox case of pancytopenia in a 55-year-old male patient who developed chronic progressive weakness, generalized body aches, and intermittent fever. His blood tests revealed pancytopenia and bone marrow biopsy revealed caseous necrosis. Since the patient had a positive history of MSM, syphilis serology was sent, which turned out to be positive. The patient responded to intravenous benzylpenicillin and oral doxycycline.
CONCLUSION: Of note, not every pancytopenia in the elderly is due to malignancy, bone marrow aplasia or acute viral / parasitic insult; other uncommon causes also exist. Syphilis should be kept among the differentials of pancytopenia when more common causes have been excluded. A good sexual history is pertinent to reaching the correct diagnosis in such cases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:21:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f47ba35cdbe34e6c968c4da538f60289 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-2643 2305-2651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T06:21:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | Khyber Medical University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Khyber Medical University Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-f47ba35cdbe34e6c968c4da538f602892023-06-09T19:18:39ZengKhyber Medical UniversityKhyber Medical University Journal2305-26432305-26512021-09-01133170210.35845/kmuj.2021.206611390PANCYTOPENIA: A RARE PRESENTATION OF SYPHILISAliena Badshah0Syed Osama Husain1Zoia Ehsan Khattak2Department of Medicine, Medical Teaching Institute Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, PakistanDepartment of Medicine, Medical Teaching Institute Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, PakistanDepartment of Medicine, Medical Teaching Institute Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, PakistanINTRODUCTION: Syphilis is caused by spirochete Treponema pallidum. A common mode of transmission is via sexual contact and mainly targeting high-risk populations such as those with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and men who have sex with men (MSM). It has a wide range of presentations based on the four main overlapping clinical stages. Due to the lack of vaccines to prevent syphilis, prompt diagnosis and management of infected persons are warranted to reduce disease burden and its clinical effects. CASE PRESENTATION: We present an unorthodox case of pancytopenia in a 55-year-old male patient who developed chronic progressive weakness, generalized body aches, and intermittent fever. His blood tests revealed pancytopenia and bone marrow biopsy revealed caseous necrosis. Since the patient had a positive history of MSM, syphilis serology was sent, which turned out to be positive. The patient responded to intravenous benzylpenicillin and oral doxycycline. CONCLUSION: Of note, not every pancytopenia in the elderly is due to malignancy, bone marrow aplasia or acute viral / parasitic insult; other uncommon causes also exist. Syphilis should be kept among the differentials of pancytopenia when more common causes have been excluded. A good sexual history is pertinent to reaching the correct diagnosis in such cases.https://www.kmuj.kmu.edu.pk/article/view/20661syphilissexually transmitted infectionspancytopeniatreponema pallidumsexually transmitted diseasesbone marrow |
| spellingShingle | Aliena Badshah Syed Osama Husain Zoia Ehsan Khattak PANCYTOPENIA: A RARE PRESENTATION OF SYPHILIS Khyber Medical University Journal syphilis sexually transmitted infections pancytopenia treponema pallidum sexually transmitted diseases bone marrow |
| title | PANCYTOPENIA: A RARE PRESENTATION OF SYPHILIS |
| title_full | PANCYTOPENIA: A RARE PRESENTATION OF SYPHILIS |
| title_fullStr | PANCYTOPENIA: A RARE PRESENTATION OF SYPHILIS |
| title_full_unstemmed | PANCYTOPENIA: A RARE PRESENTATION OF SYPHILIS |
| title_short | PANCYTOPENIA: A RARE PRESENTATION OF SYPHILIS |
| title_sort | pancytopenia a rare presentation of syphilis |
| topic | syphilis sexually transmitted infections pancytopenia treponema pallidum sexually transmitted diseases bone marrow |
| url | https://www.kmuj.kmu.edu.pk/article/view/20661 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alienabadshah pancytopeniaararepresentationofsyphilis AT syedosamahusain pancytopeniaararepresentationofsyphilis AT zoiaehsankhattak pancytopeniaararepresentationofsyphilis |