Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Syphilis in the Follow-Up of a Long-Term Cancer Survivor A Case Report (original) (raw)

Full Blown Cardiovascular Syphilis with Aneurysm of the Innominate Artery

The American Journal of Cardiology, 2009

The investigators report the case of a 44-year-old man who presented acutely and was found to have saccular aneurysm of the innominate artery, narrowed or totally occluded aortic arch arteries, and marked thickening of the thoracic aorta except for the wall behind the sinuses of Valsalva. The abdominal aorta was entirely normal. Results of the serologic test for syphilis were strongly positive. Because cardiovascular syphilis appears to be a disease that affects the vasa vasora and because these channels are limited to the thoracic aorta, the abdominal aorta is uninvolved, as demonstrated so nicely in the patient described in this case report. Because most patients with cardiovascular syphilis are much older than the patient described, it is unusual to see a perfectly normal abdominal aorta, as in the present patient. In conclusion, syphilis producing aneurysm of the innominate artery is unusual but is always associated with syphilitic involvement of the thoracic aorta.

Surgical Treatment of Aortic Regurgitation and Bilateral Coronary Artery Ostial Stenosis Due to Cardiovascular Syphilis

Knowledge International Journal

We present the case of a 44-year-old gentleman, hospitalized in Interventional cardiology department with retrosternal pain. Percutaneous coronary investigation(PCI) was performed demonstrating bilateral ostial coronary artery stenosis with moderate aortic regurgitation. The patient was transferred in our department for urgent surgery. Cardiac surgery procedure was performed including: double coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) combined with aortic valve replacement(AVR) with mechanical valve. The Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test (VDRL) and Treponema pallidum Haemagglutination(TPHA) test were done on admission – both of them being positive. Those results confirmed tertiary cardiovascular syphilis. The patient was discharged on POD 12, and was transferred to Dermatology and sexually transmitted diseases(STD) department for further antibiotic therapy concerning the syphilis infection.

Transient aortitis documented by positron emission tomography in a case series of men and transgender women infected with syphilis

Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2017

Objectives-Syphilis infection persists globally contributing to preventable and treatable morbidity and mortality. How extensive early syphilis disseminates is unknown. To better understand the relationship between early syphilis infection and inflammation over time, our study enrolled six individuals recently infected with syphilis for sequential positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Methods-We evaluated a case series of six individuals with high syphilis titres (two secondary, two early latent and two latent, unknown duration, but with high titre) who received sequential PET scans to assess inflammation over time and its response to treatment. Results-At time of PET scan, four of the six individuals were co-infected with HIV. One of the four was not on antiretroviral therapy and three of the four were not virally suppressed (viral load

Coronary ostial stenosis coexisting with atherosclerosis and anomalous left circumflex in cardiovascular syphilis-revisiting the no man's land

Journal of Indian College of Cardiology, 2014

As syphilis per se was common in past, now seen rarely. Coronary ostial stenosis in otherwise normal coronary vessels is a rare complication of syphilitic aortitis. Cardiovascular complications of tertiary syphilis include (in decreasing frequency) the following: syphilitic aortitis, ascending aortic aneurysm, aortic valve insufficiency, and coronary ostial stenosis. Our case classical example of coronary syphilitic involvement with coexistent atherosclerosis. Also there was coronary anomaly (LCX from right sinus) which adds to the rarity of the case.

Secondary syphilis mimicking malignancy: A case report and review of literature

Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy, 2017

A 56-year-old man developed disseminate lymphadenopathies, associated with hepato-splenomegaly, fever, nocturnal sweating and weight loss. Imaging studies in particular FDG-PET/CT raised the suspicion of a malignant disease. But blood flow cytometry assay for B/T cell clonality was negative and fine-needle biopsy of enlarged laterocervical lymph node showed a not specific "reactive hyperplasia". Four months later, the patient developed a non-itching rash; since a further anamnestic investigation revealed an history of high-risk sexual intercourse, the patient underwent serological tests for Treponema pallidum that were positive at high titer, after a first negative screening. Made the diagnosis of secondary syphilis, the patient responded to the treatment with benzyl penicillin with complete resolution of symptoms. This case highlights the importance of carefully screening the patients with suspected lymphoadenopathies also for lue, particularly in presence of behavioral r...

Pathologically Confirmed Malignant Syphilis in an HIV-Infected Patient

Internal Medicine, 2011

We report a case of pathologically confirmed malignant syphilis in an HIV-infected patient. Physical examinations revealed ulceronecrotic skin lesions. Skin biopsies demonstrated syphilis spirochetes on immunohistochemical stain, and syphilis serological titers were positive. Treatment with intravenous penicillin G was begun, and complete resolution of the skin lesions was observed. A rapid plasma reagin titer test performed 3 months after treatment revealed a 4-fold reduction in the titer, indicating successful treatment.