Fulminant hepatitis in a patient with secondary syphilis

Abstract

Despite the increasing incidence of syphilis and due to its wide variety of clinical manifestations, syphilis remains an under-diagnosed condition. We report an unusual case of secondary syphilis presenting with acute hepatitis and skin lesions, confirmed based on positive treponemal and non-treponemal assays. Despite adequate diagnosis and treatment, the patient developed fulminant hepatitis and brain death. This atypical presentation emphasizes the importance of high clinical suspicion in recognizing syphilis as an etiology for unexplained acute hepatitis, allowing early diagnosis and treatment and possibly avoiding severe complications such as fulminant hepatic failure.