Syphilitic Aortitis of Congenital Origin in Young Children

Abstract

Spirochaeta pallida is known to affect every organ in the human body. It has been found in practically every organ in stillborn syphilitic infants and in newborn infants that have died of syphilis. The presence of S. pallida in the newborn on necropsy has been amply demonstrated by McCord 1 and others. Apparently these lesions heal rapidly if anti \x=req-\ syphilitic treatment is instituted early in life. It is for this reason that one does not see later in life some of the stigmas of syphilitic infection observed in young children. This is especially true of the heart and the circulatory system.While the occurrence of syphilitic aortitis in young children is of great interest to the clinician, no one has yet reported an authentic case of syphilis of the large vessels in early life diagnosed on clinical examination. Only on necropsy has it been possible to prove definitely that syphilis attacks the aorta and the adjacent large vessels in young children with congenital syphilis.Norris 2 reported 2 interesting cases of syphilitic aortitis with con¬ firmatory observations at necropsy. His first case was that of a child 9 years of age who had been well until four days before admission to the hospital. He came in a semiconscious condition. Roentgen ray examination of the chest showed an enlarged heart and a possible con¬ solidation of the lower lobe in the right lung. The patient died the next day. The necropsy revealed the following picture: The lesions were primarily in the aortic valves, which were thickened at the base; there was also a marked separation of the cusps. The sinuses of Valsalva

Acute Necrotizing Large Vessel Arteritis in a Newborn

“…6 Negative serological tests and the absence of plasma cells would make lues unlikely. A review of the literature indicated that only 1 case of the relatively similar picture is reported by Barlow et al 5 in a female infant.…”