pruritic, papulonodular eruption over his arms and back.

On dark field examination, the lesions in the man were teeming with spirochetes. Additionally, his fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test was positive. The AIDS patient had a penile chancre and a positive serum test for syphilis. With penicillin therapy, the eruption in both patients rapidly resolved.

Dermatologic manifestations are the hallmark of secondary syphilis. Copper-red papules are most common, but macular, pustular, acneiform, psoriasiform, nodular, annular, or follicular variants can appear. The lesions characteristically do not itch, but as shown in the first patient,