Syphilis - tertiary

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Antibodies

Late-stage syphilis

Late syphilis; Tertiary syphilis

Symptoms of tertiary syphilis depend on which organ systems have been affected. They vary widely and are difficult to diagnose. In individuals with tertiary syphilis the primary and secondary stages of syphilis usually have been long forgotten. Medical findings of aortic aneurysms and neurological problems require astute diagnostic ability to link them to syphilis. Some of the symptomatic problems are listed below.

• Infiltrative tumors of skin, bones, or liver (gumma)
• Cardiovascular syphilis which affects the aorta and causes aneurysms or valve disease
• Central nervous system disorders (neurosyphilis)

• VDRL or RPR blood tests
• Confirmatory blood tests, such as FTA-ABS (fluorescent treponemal antibody test)
• Spinal fluid examination in neurosyphilis shows signs of meningitis.

Review Date: 08/08/2006
Reviewed By: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.