Syphilitic aneurysm of the ascending aorta

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2012 Feb;14(2):223-5. doi: 10.1093/icvts/ivr067. Epub 2011 Nov 28.

Abstract

Syphilitic aortic aneurysm is a rare occurrence in the antibiotic era, making the diagnose assumption even more infrequent. Nonetheless, this pathology can appear and should be suspected in patients with aortic aneurysm. We report a case of a 57-year old patient who presents with neurosyphilis and, in the following study, a large ascending aorta aneurysm is identified. The authors discuss the diagnostic challenge, the epidemiologic concerns, surgical indication and treatment and subsequent follow-up.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aneurysm, Infected / diagnostic imaging
  • Aneurysm, Infected / microbiology*
  • Aneurysm, Infected / surgery
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aortic Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Aneurysm / microbiology*
  • Aortic Aneurysm / surgery
  • Aortography / methods
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurosyphilis / drug therapy
  • Neurosyphilis / microbiology*
  • Syphilis, Cardiovascular / diagnostic imaging
  • Syphilis, Cardiovascular / microbiology*
  • Syphilis, Cardiovascular / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Treponema pallidum / isolation & purification*
  • Uricosuric Agents / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Uricosuric Agents