Nephrotic Syndrome in Early Infancy as a Manifestation of Congenital Syphilis

The case of a 10-week-old infant with a nephrotic syndrome due to congenital syphilis is presented. Negative prenatal history for venereal disease may be misleading. Therefore, a renewed emphasis of congenital syphilis as an etiologic factor of the nephrotic syndrome in early infancy is proposed. Protein in serum fractionation by paper electrophoresis may be of assistance in the differentiation of a primary or secondary renal disease. Early diagnosis of congenital syphilis as a cause of the nephrotic syndrome and specific antisyphilitic therapy will result in prompt remission of the clinical manifestations of this disease.