Aortic aneurysm and severe valvular insufficiency due to tertiary syphilis in a young patient, a neglected disease

Syphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum and is recognized by the variety of its clinical manifestations; it involves the nervous, integumentary and cardiovascular systems. Cardiovascular alterations occur in 70% of cases with untreated syphilis, 71% of syphilitic aortitis develop aortic aneurysms and the most frequent complication is aortic insufficiency. Treatment is directed at the underlying disease, with antibiotic treatment for tertiary syphilis and thromboembolic complications and if necessary surgical repair. We present a rare case of a patient diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus infection and cardiovascular complications typical of tertiary syphilis, who required medical and surgical treatment, which was successful. We highlight the clinical experience of our institution's professionals in the diagnosis and identification of cardiovascular complications of tertiary syphilis.