Late Cardiovascular Syphilis

Abstract

A case of belatedly diagnosed late cardiovascular syphilis that had continued progressing despite two courses of ceftriaxone therapy is described. The patient had a combination of all possible complications of syphilitic mesaortitis including aortic regurgitation, coronary insufficiency, as well as fusiform aneurysm of the ascending aorta and the proximal aortic arch. Current issues of diagnosis and therapy of late cardiovascular syphilis are discussed.

Keywords

• late cardiovascular syphilis
• syphilitic mesaortitis
• aortic regurgitation
• aortic aneurysm
• syphilitic coronary ostial stenosis
• combination of cardiovascular syphilis and neurosyphilis
• echocardiography
• treatment with ceftriaxone
• clinical and serological monitoring