Granulomatous Hepatitis in Association with Fever and a Palmar Rash

Secondary syphilis may present without the classical features of the disease and should be considered in patients acutely ill with abnormal liver function tests and a nonspecific pattern on liver biopsy. Secondary syphilis may present in association with granulomatous hepatitis and serological testing should be performed if the etiology of the hepatic granulomas is unclear. While the finding of a disproportionate elevation of alkaline phosphatase relative to serum bilirubin may be a useful pointer towards the diagnosis this pattern is not specific and not consistently observed. The definitive answer to the question of whether syphilitic hepatitis exists awaits the development of comprehensive rests to exclude viral pathogens.