{"title":"Incidence of syphilitic hepatitis among patients with neurosyphilis.","authors":"Jessica Sun, Louis Wang, Christopher Pokorny","doi":"10.1111/imj.70197","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection of ongoing public health concern due to its systemic complications, which necessitate early detection and management. As a non-hepatotropic pathogen, syphilis can also cause unexplained hepatitis, a condition that is often overlooked. A retrospective review of 62 patients with neurosyphilis at a metropolitan Australian hospital found that nine (15%) had abnormal liver biochemistry, which improved with antibiotic therapy, consistent with syphilitic hepatitis. This improvement was statistically significant across all liver markers, and the liver pattern of injury was predominantly cholestatic (67%). This study aims to alert clinicians to the incidence and patterns of liver biochemistry abnormalities in syphilis and advise clinicians to perform liver function testing in all patients with neurosyphilis, particularly in high-risk groups. Early detection and diagnosis can prevent unnecessary tests, enable prompt treatment and avoid progression to fulminant hepatitis.</p>","PeriodicalId":13625,"journal":{"name":"Internal Medicine Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Internal Medicine Journal","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.70197","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection of ongoing public health concern due to its systemic complications, which necessitate early detection and management. As a non-hepatotropic pathogen, syphilis can also cause unexplained hepatitis, a condition that is often overlooked. A retrospective review of 62 patients with neurosyphilis at a metropolitan Australian hospital found that nine (15%) had abnormal liver biochemistry, which improved with antibiotic therapy, consistent with syphilitic hepatitis. This improvement was statistically significant across all liver markers, and the liver pattern of injury was predominantly cholestatic (67%). This study aims to alert clinicians to the incidence and patterns of liver biochemistry abnormalities in syphilis and advise clinicians to perform liver function testing in all patients with neurosyphilis, particularly in high-risk groups. Early detection and diagnosis can prevent unnecessary tests, enable prompt treatment and avoid progression to fulminant hepatitis.
期刊介绍:
The Internal Medicine Journal is the official journal of the Adult Medicine Division of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP). Its purpose is to publish high-quality internationally competitive peer-reviewed original medical research, both laboratory and clinical, relating to the study and research of human disease. Papers will be considered from all areas of medical practice and science. The Journal also has a major role in continuing medical education and publishes review articles relevant to physician education.