Cardiovascular syphilis (current state of the problem and analysis of own observations)

Abstract

A description of two cases of cardiovascular syphilis is presented. The introduction discusses the relevance of visceral syphilis. The literary review is constructed in a chronological format and reflects the stages of studying the problem of cardiovascular syphilis. It emphasizes that cardiovascular syphilis is currently a rare pathology and internists are more likely to encounter it. Verification of the pathology of the cardiovascular system, including aortic aneurysm, during the early stages of syphilis (early latent) does not exclude the option of combined pathology. Early forms of syphilis in patients with diseases of the cardiovascular system should be considered a factor that complicates diagnosis. Such patients should be carefully examined to determine the cause of the disease. Rationale for the diagnosis of cardiovascular syphilis requires a comprehensive assessment of the results of clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination of the patient. A preliminary diagnosis of the specific etiology of an aortic aneurysm should be based on the following criteria: 1) relatively young age of patients with socially inappropriate sexual behavior; 2) sudden onset and rapid progression of the main signs of the disease. All patients with newly diagnosed aortic aneurysm at the outpatient stage should perform a serological examination. The diagnosis of cardiovascular syphilis, namely a syphilitic mesaortitis, can be established or confirmed by an autopsy.

Keywords

• visceral syphilis
• cardiovascular syphilis
• aortic aneurysm
• syphilitic mesaortitis
• pathoanatomical research