Syphilitic hepatitis: a case report and review of the literature

BMC Gastroenterology

Mingfang Wang¹  Jiaofeng Huang¹  Yueyong Zhu¹  Su Lin¹  Bo Wan² 

[1] Department of Liver Research Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 20, Chazhong Road, Taijiang District, 350001, Fuzhou, Fujian, China;Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, SE1 1UL, London, UK;

关键词: Syphilis;    Hepatitis;    Rashes;    Enzymes;    Infection;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12876-019-1112-z

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSyphilis is a common disease that has been researched and focused on for many years, however, syphilitic hepatitis has not been well-recognized. We report this case of syphilitic hepatitis with intrahepatic cholestasis and liver granulomas to make a deeper impression.Case presentationA 47-year-old male was admitted with jaundice and rashes. The laboratory examination showed abnormal liver enzymes with significant increases in ALP and GGT but mild increases in ALT and AST. His HBV surface antigen was weakly positive, with negative HIV antibody, HCV antibody, and undetectable HBV DNA. The rapid plasma reagin test and the Treponema pallidum particle assay tests for Syphilis were both positive. Abdominal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed the normal biliary tract, liver, and spleen. The liver pathological examination showed cholangiocyte inflammation and micro-granulomas with coagulation necrosis. After 2 months of benzathine penicillin treatment, his liver enzyme decreased rapidly and remained normal after 1-year of follow-up.ConclusionsIncreased liver enzymes, intrahepatic cholestasis and liver granulomas with well-response to antibiotics may provide clues for the diagnosis of syphilitic hepatitis.

【 授权许可】

CC BY