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Updated: Jul 7, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancing Syphilis Research — Innovations in Treponema pallidum Cultivation and Genetic Engineering
Published on: January 24, 2025
Crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with syphilis: a case report and review of the literature
Akiko Kaiga1, Yuka Sato1, Haruna Arakawa1
1Department of Nephrology & Hypertension, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mubu, Tochigi, Japan.
Background:
Crescentic glomerulonephritis with syphilis infection is rare, and the mechanism underlying the formation of glomerular capillary wall damage-induced crescent has not been elucidated.
Case Presentation:
A 62-year-old Japanese male showed edema, eruption, and rapid deterioration of the renal function after an acute syphilis infection. A renal biopsy showed crescentic glomerulonephritis with C3 deposition in the glomerular capillary wall, and immunostaining for anti-Treponema pallidum antibody was weakly positive in some interstitium and one glomerulus. Electron microscopy revealed the presence of string-shaped structures in the glomerular capillary walls. After treatment with penicillin followed by prednisolone, the renal function and urinary abnormalities, including Treponema pallidum protein, disappeared.
Conclusions:
Crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with syphilis showed a string-shaped deposition in the glomerular capillary and urinary Treponema pallidum protein excretion, and was effectively treated with penicillin and prednisolone.
