A Case of Pulmonary Syphilis Resulting in Multi-organ Dysfunction and Consequential Demise of a 19-Year-old Male

This case presents a young male, with a history of high-risk sexual behavior and immunosuppression, admitted with multi-organ dysfunction and pronounced dead within 24 hours of admission. After an extensive investigation, to include post-mortem studies, his symptoms were attributed to secondary syphilis, which was confirmed with high rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titers (1:128) and positive fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS). The patient developed rapid hypoxemia and hemodynamic instability with pulseless electrical activity (PEA) arrest and was unable to be resuscitated after many rounds of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). An autopsy revealed syphilis spirochetes in the liver, heart, lungs, and brain.