Introduction: Cardiovascular syphilis can manifest as aortic aneurysms, aortic regurgitation and coronary ostial stenosis. Tertiary syphilis was the most commom reported cause of thoracic aortic aneurysm in the pre-antibiotic era, contributing to 5- 10% of cardiovascular deaths. However, in the 21st century, it has virtually disappered from the devoloping nations. Tertiay syphilis may develop in about one third of cases of untreated syphilis. In the pre-penicilin era, it was calculated that cardiovascular syphilis was responsible for 10-15% of clinical syphilis.
Methods: We present a rare case of syphilitic aortitis in a era of highly effective antibiotics.
Results: A 48-year-old man with no known clinical cardiac pathology went to emergency with an episode of chest pain of short duration and great intensity, being hospitalized with a differential diagnosis of coronary disease, ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic valve regurgitation. Two segments of the aorta, 5cm and 9.5cm length were observed, both had thickened wall (1cm), and firm plaques with diferent shapes and sizes. The intima of the aorta appeared rough and pitted, with the appearance of tree bark. There were heterogeneous lesions of the tunica media: hyalinization and calcification, macrophages aggregates, areas of hemorrhage and lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate forming vascular sheaths. Adventitia exhibited hyperplasia of nerve pathways with surrounding lymphoplasmocytic infiltrate. The diagnosis of syphilitic aortitis was purposed and serological analysis revealed positivity for Treponema pallidum. Patient underwent surgical correction of an aortic aneurysm.
Conclusion: The serological positivity for Treponema pallidum and the histopathological study allowed the currently rare diagnosis of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm by Tertiary Syphilis. In the present scenario with early and widespread use of antibiotics, it is considered a very rare disease.