Syphilis-related hepatitis in a liver transplant patient

Exp Clin Transplant. 2007 Dec;5(2):724-6.

Abstract

We herein describe a case of secondary syphilis hepatitis in a liver transplant patient. This homosexual man presented 15 years after an orthotopic liver transplant with nonsquamous papillomacular rash, mild cytolysis, and anicteric cholestasis. Laboratory tests showed syphilis seroconversionwith a VDRL test titer of 1/256, a Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay of 1/5120, and a positive immunoglobulin M fluorescent Treponemal antibody absorbance. A liver biopsy performed 13 months after the diagnosis showed low-grade hepatitis with a METAVIR score of A1F1; it also showed moderate, nonspecific portal inflammation consisting primarily of neutrophils, with no evidence of cholestasis. The patient was given benzathine-penicillin (2400000 IU) with a transient increase in prednisolone dosages. Cytolysis rapidly, and cholestasis progressively, disappeared. Results of an immunoglobulin M fluorescent Treponemal antibody absorbance test became negative, whereas the VDRL test and the Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay titers decreased slightly over time.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / microbiology*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / virology
  • Humans
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Syphilis / microbiology
  • Syphilis / virology*
  • Treponema pallidum / isolation & purification