Abstract

A 58-year-old Chinese woman presented with syphilis d'emblée. Seven weeks after a blood transfusion lesions appeared on the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet. These gradually increased in number and other lesions developed on the scalp and palatal mucosa. One of the blood donors was found to have had positive serological test results for syphilis but no clinical symptoms or signs. This case illustrates the danger inherent in the use of whole fresh blood for transfusion purposes.