Making a Comeback: Syphilitic Hepatitis in a Patient with Late Latent Syphilis—Case Report and Review of the Literature
<i>Treponema pallidum</i> infection has emerged in recent years as an important community threat and burden to the health care system. Here, we report the case of a patient with cholestatic liver disease secondary to late latent syphilis. A 41 year-old male patient was referred to the cl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/10/1151 |
| _version_ | 1797470533910003712 |
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| author | Alina Plesa Liliana Gheorghe Corina Elena Hincu Andreea Clim Roxana Nemteanu |
| author_facet | Alina Plesa Liliana Gheorghe Corina Elena Hincu Andreea Clim Roxana Nemteanu |
| author_sort | Alina Plesa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Treponema pallidum</i> infection has emerged in recent years as an important community threat and burden to the health care system. Here, we report the case of a patient with cholestatic liver disease secondary to late latent syphilis. A 41 year-old male patient was referred to the clinic for assessment of an abnormal liver function panel. Ultrasound of the abdomen demonstrated an intense liver echogenicity, normal bile ducts, and no ascites. Virologic study revealed negative results for antibodies against common viral hepatitis and metabolic and autoimmune disease. The patient was tested for syphilis and a positive result was reported. The patient was diagnosed with late latent syphilis and syphilitic hepatitis and initiated benzathine penicillin at G 7.2 million units total, delivered as three doses of 2.4 million units intramuscular each at one-week intervals. He was assessed monthly and by the end of the sixth month, he had nonreactive VDRL (seroconversion), which confirmed recovery. Syphilitic hepatitis is an overlooked type of hepatitis and should be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis in an abnormal liver panel of uncertain etiology. Health care providers should be advised that higher levels of ALP may be the single landmark in cases of syphilitic hepatitis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:37:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ae6ce5e757a464e81393e465ca57bd3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:37:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ae6ce5e757a464e81393e465ca57bd32023-11-24T01:48:48ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172022-10-011110115110.3390/pathogens11101151Making a Comeback: Syphilitic Hepatitis in a Patient with Late Latent Syphilis—Case Report and Review of the LiteratureAlina Plesa0Liliana Gheorghe1Corina Elena Hincu2Andreea Clim3Roxana Nemteanu4Medical I Department, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaMedical I Department, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Radiology, “Sfantul Spiridon” Hospital, 700111 Iasi, RomaniaMedical I Department, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaMedical I Department, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania<i>Treponema pallidum</i> infection has emerged in recent years as an important community threat and burden to the health care system. Here, we report the case of a patient with cholestatic liver disease secondary to late latent syphilis. A 41 year-old male patient was referred to the clinic for assessment of an abnormal liver function panel. Ultrasound of the abdomen demonstrated an intense liver echogenicity, normal bile ducts, and no ascites. Virologic study revealed negative results for antibodies against common viral hepatitis and metabolic and autoimmune disease. The patient was tested for syphilis and a positive result was reported. The patient was diagnosed with late latent syphilis and syphilitic hepatitis and initiated benzathine penicillin at G 7.2 million units total, delivered as three doses of 2.4 million units intramuscular each at one-week intervals. He was assessed monthly and by the end of the sixth month, he had nonreactive VDRL (seroconversion), which confirmed recovery. Syphilitic hepatitis is an overlooked type of hepatitis and should be kept in mind as a differential diagnosis in an abnormal liver panel of uncertain etiology. Health care providers should be advised that higher levels of ALP may be the single landmark in cases of syphilitic hepatitis.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/10/1151syphilitic hepatitislate latent syphilispenicillin G |
| spellingShingle | Alina Plesa Liliana Gheorghe Corina Elena Hincu Andreea Clim Roxana Nemteanu Making a Comeback: Syphilitic Hepatitis in a Patient with Late Latent Syphilis—Case Report and Review of the Literature Pathogens syphilitic hepatitis late latent syphilis penicillin G |
| title | Making a Comeback: Syphilitic Hepatitis in a Patient with Late Latent Syphilis—Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_full | Making a Comeback: Syphilitic Hepatitis in a Patient with Late Latent Syphilis—Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_fullStr | Making a Comeback: Syphilitic Hepatitis in a Patient with Late Latent Syphilis—Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Making a Comeback: Syphilitic Hepatitis in a Patient with Late Latent Syphilis—Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_short | Making a Comeback: Syphilitic Hepatitis in a Patient with Late Latent Syphilis—Case Report and Review of the Literature |
| title_sort | making a comeback syphilitic hepatitis in a patient with late latent syphilis case report and review of the literature |
| topic | syphilitic hepatitis late latent syphilis penicillin G |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/10/1151 |
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