A rare case of tertiary syphilis complicated with aortic aneurysm in this era of early use of highly effective antibiotics

Abstract

This 35-year-old man presented with history of hemoptysis and breathlessness on exertion of 3 months duration. Examination revealed feeble left radial, brachial and carotid pulses. Chest radiograph showed a superior mediastinal mass and contrast enhanced computed tomography chest showed a large aortic arch with mass and compression effects. Endosonographic examination was suggestive of aortic aneurysm. During further evaluation, serum Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test was found to be positive in titers of 1:32. Treponema pallidum hemagglutination test was performed and showed positive titers of 1:64. Neurosyphilis was ruled out by normal cerebrospinal fluid examination findings. Patient was treated with injectable benzathine penicillin and aortic aneurysm repair was planned. The authors present a rare case of tertiary syphilis complicated with aortic aneurysm in this era of early use of highly effective antibiotics.

Challenges in the Diagnosis of Tertiary Syphilis: Case Report with Literature Review

“…Late symptomatic syphilis is a rare systemic disease that can affect the skin, the mucous membranes, the circulatory system, the nervous system and the skeletal system. The incidence of tertiary syphilis decreases significantly with the introduction of penicillin in its early stage, but new cases of this disease are still being reported [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ,…”

“…Late syphilis involving the internal organs (Lues visceralis) most often affects the cardiovascular system [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ], mainly as aortitis that can develop aneurysms. Gummas can also be located in the lungs, the liver, the pancreas, the digestive tract and even the adrenal glands [ 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 ].…”

“…In order to illustrate this issue, the PubMed database was searched for cases of tertiary syphilis in the last 10 years. 22 cases of late skin syphilis (including one in Poland) [ 14 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 47 ], 21 cases of cardiovascular system syphilis [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 ], five cases of systemic syphilis (the liver, the pancreas, the adrenal glands) [ 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 ], 11 cases of syphilis affecting bones [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ,…”

“…Syphilis can be divided into primary and secondary stage early syphilis (within one year of infection), and late latent and symptomatic syphilis [ 10 ]. The number of cases of late symptomatic syphilis have dropped significantly since the implementation of penicillin to treat early syphilis [ 11 ], but occasional cases of tertiary syphilis are still noted [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ,…”

A Rare Case of an Abdominal Aortic Thrombus Secondary to Syphilitic Aortitis

“…Given his lack of obvious risk factors for the development of arterial thrombosis, an alternative cause of syphilis infection was suspected. Approximately ⅓ of patients with untreated syphilis present with tertiary syphilis 10-30 years following initial exposure, and while rare, thrombosis of the aorta has been reported in syphilitic aortitis, a sequela of the tertiary disease [9]. Recent research studying Treponema pallidum has revealed that it is an invasive bacteria with the ability to readily cross-endothelial barriers through its ability to interact with, and activate platelets [10].…”