Skip to main content
The British Journal of Venereal Diseases logoLink to The British Journal of Venereal Diseases
. 1984 Apr;60(2):83–86. doi: 10.1136/sti.60.2.83

Prevalence of liver abnormality in early syphilis.

S I Terry, B Hanchard, S E Brooks, H McDonald, S Siva
PMCID: PMC1046440  PMID: 6704699

Abstract

Hepatic structure and function of 22 unselected patients with early syphilis was assessed. In 20 (91%) routine hepatic tests or bromsulphalein retention showed mild non-specific abnormalities. Minor changes in hepatic structure were present in 12 (55%), in three of whom intrahepatic spirochaetes were found. The only patient who had hepatomegaly also had splenomegaly. Observed changes in hepatic structure correlated with neither physical signs nor results of biochemical tests. Hepatic changes in early syphilis are common but frequently subclinical.

Full text

PDF
83

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Baker A. L., Kaplan M. M., Wolfe H. J., McGowan J. A. Liver disease associated with early syphilis. N Engl J Med. 1971 Jun 24;284(25):1422–1423. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197106242842507. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bhowmick B. K., Simpsom B., Way S. P. Secondary syphilis presenting jaundice. Postgrad Med J. 1975 Jun;51(596):412–416. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.51.596.412. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Campisi D., Whitcomb C. Liver disease in early syphilis. Arch Intern Med. 1979 Mar;139(3):365–366. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Fehér J., Somogyi T., Timmer M., Józsa L. Early syphilitic hepatitis. Lancet. 1975 Nov 8;2(7941):896–899. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(75)92129-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Fehér J., Somogyi T., Timmer M., Józsa L. Syphilitic hepatitis: clinical, immunological and morphological aspects. Acta Med Acad Sci Hung. 1975;32(2):155–161. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Haburchak D. R., Davidson H. Anorectal lesions and syphilitic hepatitis. West J Med. 1978 Jan;128(1):64–67. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hanchard B., Brooks S. E., Terry S. Pathology of the liver in early syphilis. West Indian Med J. 1978 Jun;27(2):91–95. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hjort M., Olsson R., Smith U., Zettergren L. Hepatitis in secondary syphilis. Scand J Infect Dis. 1977;9(1):59–61. doi: 10.3109/inf.1977.9.issue-1.14. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Jeffries D. J., James W. H., Jefferiss F. J., MacLeod K. G., Willcox R. R. Australia (hepatitis-associated) antigen in patients attending a venereal disease clinic. Br Med J. 1973 May 26;2(5864):455–456. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5864.455. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Józsa L., Timmer M., Somogyi T., Fehér J. Hepatitis syphilitica. A clinico-pathological study of 25 cases. Acta Hepatogastroenterol (Stuttg) 1977 Oct;24(5):344–347. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Karmi G., Thirkettle J. L., Read A. E. The association of syphilis with hepatic cirrhosis: a report of six cases and a review of the literature. Postgrad Med J. 1969 Oct;45(528):675–679. doi: 10.1136/pgmj.45.528.675. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Keisler D. S., Jr, Starke W., Looney D. J., Mark W. W., Jr Early syphilis with liver involvement. JAMA. 1982 Apr 9;247(14):1999–2000. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Lee R. V., Thornton G. F., Conn H. O. Liver disease associated with secondary syphilis. N Engl J Med. 1971 Jun 24;284(25):1423–1425. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197106242842508. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Longstreth P., Hoke A. W., Elroy C. Hepatitis and bone destruction as uncommon manifestations of early syphilis. Report of a case. Arch Dermatol. 1976 Oct;112(10):1451–1454. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. McCracken J. D., Hall W. H., Pierce H. I. Nephrotic syndrome and acute hepatitis in secondary syphilis. Mil Med. 1969 Sep;134(9):682–686. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Morrison E. B., Norman D. A., Wingo C. S., Henrich W. L. Simultaneous hepatic and renal involvement in acute syphilis. Case report and review of the literature. Dig Dis Sci. 1980 Nov;25(11):875–878. doi: 10.1007/BF01338531. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Pareek S. S. Liver involvement in secondary syphilis. Dig Dis Sci. 1979 Jan;24(1):41–43. doi: 10.1007/BF01297236. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Parker J. D. Uncommon complications of early syphilis. Hepatitis, periostitis, iritis with papillitis, and meningitis. Br J Vener Dis. 1972 Feb;48(1):32–36. doi: 10.1136/sti.48.1.32. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Romeu J., Rybak B., Dave P., Coven R. Spirochetal vasculitis and bile ductular damage in early hepatic syphilis. Am J Gastroenterol. 1980 Oct;74(4):352–354. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Sarkany I. Pruritus and cholestatic jaundice due to secondary syphilis. Proc R Soc Med. 1973 Mar;66(3):237–238. doi: 10.1177/003591577306600315. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Sewell J., Ahmed M. A. Letter: Secondary syphilis and hepatitis. Br Med J. 1975 Jul 5;3(5974):42–42. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5974.42-a. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Sherlock S. The liver in secondary (early) syphilis. N Engl J Med. 1971 Jun 24;284(25):1437–1438. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197106242842513. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Sobel H. J., Wolf E. H. Liver involvement in early syphilis. Arch Pathol. 1972 Jun;93(6):565–568. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Young E., Bahr G., Waye J. D. The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction in syphilitic hepatitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 1974 Jun;61(6):476–477. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Zellmann H. E., Norcross J. W. Early syphilitic hepatitis. Lahey Clin Found Bull. 1967;16(3):255–259. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Venereal Diseases are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES