Acute Erosive Gastritis Due to Early Syphilis

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Abstract
The case presented represents an unusual form of gastric involvement occurring during the period of spirochetemia. The patient was a 29-year-old Negro woman admitted to the hospital after a seven day period of intractable vomiting, epigastric fullness and pain. Both primary and secondary lesions of the skin and mucosal surfaces of the vulva were noted. These were confirmed by darkfield microscopy. Multiple small, polypoid filling defects throughout the distal stomach were demonstrated on the initial upper gastro-intestinal X-ray study. By gastroscopy, serpiginous and superficial ulcerations of the antral mucosa were seen. A gastric biopsy indicated that the gastric changes were compatible with syphilis. After the institution of adequate penicillin therapy, the gastric as well as the skin and vulvar lesions cleared promptly. Repeat gastric analyses were done and initially the patient manifested slight hyperchlorhydria but after treatment secretion returned to normal. Although spirochetes were not demonstrated in the gastric lesions, this case meets the requirements suggested for the diagnosis of gastric syphilis.

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