Cardiovascular Syphilis

Cardiovascular Reference syphilis Opens New Window refers to the infection of the heart and related blood vessels by the syphilis bacteria. This complication usually begins as an Reference inflammation Opens New Window of the arteries. Destruction caused by cardiovascular syphilis can be life-threatening.

Complications of cardiovascular syphilis include:

• Narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart, which may lead to chest pain (Reference angina Opens New Window), Reference heart attack Opens New Window, and possibly death.
• Damage to heart valves that may lead to Reference heart failure Opens New Window.
• Reference Aortic aneurysm Opens New Window. If a vessel becomes weak enough, it can rupture and cause death.

Reference Antibiotic Opens New Window treatment cures the syphilis infection and stops the progress of cardiovascular syphilis. But the damage that has already occurred may not be reversed.

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