{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,1]],"date-time":"2026-06-01T14:18:37Z","timestamp":1780323517151,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":10,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"6","content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Case Rep"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,3]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    Syphilitic proctitis is an uncommon presentation of\n                    <jats:italic>Treponema pallidum<\/jats:italic>\n                    infection and can closely resemble other anorectal conditions. Due to its non-specific symptoms, it is often underdiagnosed, particularly in individuals without systemic manifestations. A male patient in his 30s presented with isolated rectal bleeding. Sigmoidoscopy revealed multiple superficial ulcers over the folds of the anal canal, along with erythematous rectal mucosa and focal erosions. Given the patient\u2019s history of unprotected sexual intercourse, serological testing was performed. The Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test and histopathology from the rectal ulcers confirmed the diagnosis of syphilitic proctitis. The patient was treated successfully with intramuscular benzathine penicillin, resulting in complete resolution of symptoms. This case underscores the importance of considering\n                    <jats:italic>T. pallidum<\/jats:italic>\n                    infection in patients with unexplained rectal bleeding, particularly those with a history of unprotected sexual activity. Early recognition and appropriate antibiotic therapy are essential to prevent complications and limit transmission.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/bcr-2026-273720","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,1]],"date-time":"2026-06-01T13:16:32Z","timestamp":1780319792000},"page":"e273720","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Syphilitic proctitis presenting as rectal bleeding"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"19","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-8066-0752","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Abhijeet Sugriv","family":"Ghodke","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical Gastroenterology, Dr D Y Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, Maharashtra, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8545-4751","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Amol","family":"Dahale","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical Gastroenterology, Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, Maharashtra, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7794-7831","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Debabrata","family":"Banerjee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical Gastroenterology, Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Pune, Maharashtra, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1393-7292","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dandi","family":"Kranthi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Medical Gastroenterology, Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Khammam, Telangana, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026060106100994000_19.6.e273720.1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(17)32154-2"},{"key":"2026060106100994000_19.6.e273720.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14155308","article-title":"The Epidemiology of Syphilis Worldwide in the Last Decade","volume":"14","author":"Rosset","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"2026060106100994000_19.6.e273720.3","unstructured":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2022. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2023. Available: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/sti-statistics\/media\/pdfs\/2024\/11\/2022-STI-Surveillance-Report-PDF.pdf"},{"key":"2026060106100994000_19.6.e273720.4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.15585\/mmwr.rr7005a1"},{"key":"2026060106100994000_19.6.e273720.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e1110","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(21)00221-7","article-title":"Prevalence of syphilis among men who have sex with men: a global systematic review and meta-analysis from 2000-20","volume":"9","author":"Tsuboi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Lancet Glob Health"},{"key":"2026060106100994000_19.6.e273720.6","first-page":"629","article-title":"Infectious proctitis: when to suspect sexually transmitted diseases","volume":"9","author":"Hoentjen","year":"2012","journal-title":"Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol"},{"key":"2026060106100994000_19.6.e273720.7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jdv.17269"},{"key":"2026060106100994000_19.6.e273720.8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1025","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaad.2015.08.062","article-title":"Histologic features of secondary syphilis: A multicenter retrospective review","volume":"73","author":"Flamm","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Am Acad Dermatol"},{"key":"2026060106100994000_19.6.e273720.9","first-page":"789","article-title":"Intestinal spirochetosis and related conditions","volume":"10","author":"Koo","year":"2012","journal-title":"Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol"},{"key":"2026060106100994000_19.6.e273720.10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"869","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa2401802","article-title":"One Dose versus Three Doses of Benzathine Penicillin G in Early Syphilis","volume":"393","author":"Hook","year":"2025","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"}],"container-title":["BMJ Case Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bcr-2026-273720","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,1]],"date-time":"2026-06-01T13:16:34Z","timestamp":1780319794000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/casereports.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bcr-2026-273720"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]},"references-count":10,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,1]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bcr-2026-273720"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bcr-2026-273720","relation":{},"ISSN":["1757-790X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1757-790X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]}}}