A patient referred to the genitourinary clinic for positive syphilis serology was found to have symptoms and signs of nephrotic syndrome. A renal biopsy showed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Doxycycline 200 mg twice daily for 28 days coincided with considerable decrease in proteinuria and rise in serum albumin, suggesting a causal relationship.
HunteWAl-GhraoulFCohenRJ. Secondary syphilis and the nephrotic syndrome. J Am Soc Nephrol1993; 3: 1351–1355.
2.
Mora MoraMTGallego DomínguezMSCastellano CerviñoMI. Membranous glomerulonephritis in a patient with syphilis. Nefrologia2011; 31: 372–373.
3.
SoehardyZHayatiSNRozitaM. Subclinical acquired syphilis masquerading as membranous glomerulonephritis. Med J Malaysia2006; 61: 484–486.
4.
Handoko ML, Duijvestein M, Scheepstra CG, et al. Syphilis: a reversible cause of nephrotic syndrome. BMJ Case Rep. Epub ahead of print 2013. DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2012-008279.
5.
BellomoGVerduraCVenanziS. A 34-year-old man with membranous nephropathy, a rash, meningitis and ocular involvement. NDT Plus2008; 1: 346–348.
6.
KraneNKEspenanPWalkerPD. Renal disease and syphilis: a report of nephrotic syndrome with minimal change disease. Am J Kid Dis1987; 9: 176–179.
7.
WalkerPDDeevesECShabaG. Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in a patient with syphilis. Am J Med1984; 76: 1106–1106.
8.
Rocha de CarvalhoJGSlongoELSobralAC. Kidney mass and osteolytic lesion: is it always malignancy?Nephrol Dial Transplant2007; 22: 645–648.
9.
D’AgatiVDKaskelFJFalkRJ. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. N Engl J Med2011; 363: 2398–2411.
10.
TanawattanacharoenSFalkRJJennetteJC. Parvovirus B19 DNA in kidney tissue of patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Am J Kidney Dis2000; 35(6): 1166–1174.
11.
PhairJPalellaF. Renal disease in HIV-infected individuals. Curr Opin HIV AIDS2011; 6: 285–289.
12.
HermanGMarrWL. Clinical syphilis nephropathies: a study of new cases and survey of reported cases. Am J Syph Neurol1935; 19: 1–29.
13.
GambleCNReardanJB. Immunopathogenesis of syphilitic glomerulonephritis. Elution of antitreponemal antibody from glomerular immune-complex deposits. N Engl J Med1975; 292: 449–454.
14.
ZenilmanJMRandSBarditchP. Asymptomatic neurosyphilis after doxycycline therapy for early latent syphilis. Sex Transm Dis1993; 20(6): 346–347.
15.
DowellMERossPGMusherDM. Response of latent syphilis or neurosyphilis to ceftriaxone therapy in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Am J Med1992; 93(5): 481–488.
