A 25-year-old male student presents with the chief complaint of rash. He denies headache, fever, or myalgia. A slightly pruritic maculopapular rash is noted over the abdomen, trunk, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. Inguinal, occipital, and cervical lymphadenopathy is also noted. Hypertrophic, flat, wartlike lesions are noted around the anal area. Laboratory studies show the following:
Which of the following is the most useful laboratory test in this patient?
A. Human papillomavirus (HPV) serologyThe diffuse rash involving palms and soles would in itself suggest the possibility of secondary syphilis. The hypertrophic, wartlike lesions around the anal area, called condyloma lata, are specific for secondary syphilis. The VDRL slide test will be positive in all patients with secondary syphilis. Rash and lymphadenopathy would not be found if the perianal lesions were due to HPV. Chlamydia infections cause urethritis with mucopurulent discharge from the penile meatus but not the systemic symptoms or hypertrophic skin changes. Blood cultures might be drawn to rule out bacterial infection such as chronic meningococcemia; however, the clinical picture is not consistent with a systemic bacterial infection. Biopsy of the condyloma is not necessary in this setting, as regression of the lesion with treatment will distinguish it from genital wart (condyloma acuminatum) or squamous cell carcinoma.