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Case Reports
. 2022 Mar;18(1):106-109.
doi: 10.1007/s12024-021-00419-4. Epub 2021 Oct 16.

Sudden death due to rupture of an aortic syphilitic aneurysm

Maksim A Kislov  1 , Mohit Chauhan  2 , Konstatin N Krupin  3 , Olga L Romanova  4   5 , Roger W Byard  6   7
Affiliations
Case Reports

Sudden death due to rupture of an aortic syphilitic aneurysm

Maksim A Kislov et al. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

A 26-year-old man who suddenly collapsed and died was found at autopsy to have a ruptured aortic aneurysm which had the classic "tree bark" appearance of tertiary syphilis. Tracking of blood into the pericardial sac had resulted in sudden death from cardiac tamponade. Serological results were consistent with syphilis and HIV was excluded. Sudden death in a young HIV-negative man from the effects of syphilis is exceedingly rare nowadays.

Keywords: Aortic aneurysm; Cardiac tamponade; Hemopericardium; Sudden death; Syphilitic aortitis.

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References

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