Congenital Syphilis Presenting with Only Nephrotic Syndrome: Reemergence of a Forgotten Disease

• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2017.32.8.1374
• Publication Date: 2017-06-30T10:15:23Z
• Authors: Yun Hee Kim; Ji Ho Song; Chan Jong Kim; Eun Mi Yang
• Keywords: Hepatosplenomegaly; Congenital syphilis; Nephrosis; Minimal change disease

Congenital Syphilis Presenting with Only Nephrotic Syndrome: Reemergence of a Forgotten DiseaseSyphilis infection has re-emerged after years declining incidence.The prevalence congenital syphilis (CS) increased in Korea and other countries during the last few decades.Untreated infants develop symptoms such as rhinorrhea, anemia, jaundice, cutaneous lesions, hepatosplenomegaly, pseudoparalysis within weeks or months.Significant renal disease is uncommon CS, clinical involvement varies from mild transient proteinuria to frank nephrosis.We report 2-month-old infant CS who presented only nephrotic syndrome (NS).The previously healthy NS showed no syphilitic manifestations.Remission was achieved adequate penicillin treatment.No recurrence observed 1 year follow-up.Although rare, this long forgotten continues affect pregnant women, resulting prenatal postnatal mortality.We still consider possibility nephropathy therefore serologic testing for NS.