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CASE REPORT
Syphilis: a reversible cause of nephrotic syndrome
  1. M Louis Handoko1,2,
  2. Marjolijn Duijvestein1,3,
  3. Cornelis G Scheepstra4,
  4. Carola W H de Fijter1
  1. 1Department of Internal Medicine/Nephrology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  2. 2Department of Cardiology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  3. 3Department of Gastroenterology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  4. 4Department of Pathology, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  1. Correspondence to Dr Louis Handoko, ml.handoko{at}vumc.nl

Summary

A patient in his late 30s presented with symptoms consistent with a nephrotic syndrome. Renal biopsy revealed membranous nephropathy. He also mentioned a spontaneous resolving ‘rash’ at his glans penis after unprotected intercourse. Therefore, he was tested for sexually transmitted diseases as a possible underlying cause of his nephrotic syndrome. Serology for syphilis was positive with high titres. After a single penicillin injection, there was fast and complete clinical recovery.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2012-008279

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