[Rash and nephrotic syndrome: consider syphilis].

INTRODUCTION

Kidney disease is among the clinical manifestations of secondary syphilis, as this case report shows.

OBSERVATION

During serologically confirmed secondary syphilis, a 63-year-old man developed a nephrotic syndrome diagnosed after biopsy as membranous nephropathy.

DISCUSSION

Membranous nephropathy is an immunological complication of secondary syphilis. Recovery usually follows treatment. It is often associated with signs that may erroneously suggest connective tissue disease.