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Syphilitic Aortitis Presenting With De-Novo Aortic Thrombus and Acute Myocardial Infarction
Richard S Mendez1, Abdilahi Mohamoud2, Omar Atef Abdelhamid Mahmoud3
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Background:
Syphilitic aortitis, caused by Treponema pallidum, is a known complication of tertiary or latent syphilis.
Case Summary:
We present a case of syphilitic aortitis in a patient who presented with acute inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and was detected to have a large, mobile aortic thrombus on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and confirmed with coronary computed tomography angiogram. After multidisciplinary discussion, the patient underwent urgent definitive surgical intervention.
Discussion:
With syphilis cases surging, clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for syphilitic aortitis with atypical clinical presentations. Multimodality cardiovascular imaging is imperative to establish a diagnosis, and surgical intervention may be required to treat this rare disease.
Take-Home Message:
Awareness and timely intervention are essential to address this morbid, re-emerging public health challenge.
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