Background: Neurosyphilis is a tertiary form of syphilis and is caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. Today, more than one type of neurosyphilis often manifest simultaneously, which can pose difficulties to the diagnostic process.
Case Description: A 45-year-old man presented with an attack of stammering and loss of strength in the right half of his body. Diagnostic testing led to a suspected TIA and the man was treated as such. It was only a few months later, when he had developed more neurological symptoms, that the diagnosis of 'neurosyphilis' was made. Despite treatment with benzyl penicillin, he also developed symptoms of a psychiatric nature.
Conclusion: The patient described in this article had symptoms consistent with both meningovascular syphilis and generalised paresis. Detailed history-taking was necessary to make the diagnosis (the patient had a history of gonorrhoea). A seemingly insignificant detail - an elevated estimated sedimentation rate - was an important clue.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Mechanisms of Neurosyphilis-Induced Dementia: Insights into Pathophysiology.
Neurol Int
December 2024
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Miami Miller, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Neurosyphilis-induced dementia represents a severe manifestation of tertiary syphilis, characterized by cognitive and neuropsychiatric impairments. This condition arises from the progression of syphilis to the central nervous system, where the spirochete causes damage through invasion, chronic inflammation, and neurodegeneration. The pathophysiology involves chronic inflammatory responses, direct bacterial damage, and proteinopathies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeutrophil-related indicators as potential peripheral blood biomarkers for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis: a cross-sectional study.
Eur J Med Res
December 2024
Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1278 Baode Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai, 200443, China.
Background: Neurosyphilis (NS) is the most serious complication elicited by the invasion of Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) into the central nervous system. Identifying the neuro-invasion of T.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF[Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Monitoring Approach in Suspected Neurosyphilis: Proposal for a Clinical Guideline].
Acta Med Port
December 2024
Serviço de Doenças Infeciosas. Unidade Local de Saúde de São João. Porto; Departamento de Medicina. Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade do Porto. Porto. Portugal.
This clinical guideline was designed to serve as a hospital guide in the diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring approach to neurosyphilis, considering whether there is positivity or not for the human immunodeficiency virus. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted notifiable disease, known as the great imitator. In around 30% of cases of untreated disease, there is a persistent central nervous system infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurosyphilis-Induced Psychosis in Europe: A Systematic Review of Case Reports.
Pathogens
November 2024
Department of Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, Poland.
Article Synopsis
- The tertiary stage of syphilis involves diverse symptoms, particularly affecting the cardiovascular, neurological, and psychiatric systems, highlighting the need for awareness and interdisciplinary collaboration in treatment.
- A systematic review analyzed 11 case reports focused on organic psychoses associated with tertiary syphilis, revealing that most patients experienced delusions (91%) and hallucinations (81%).
- The study also noted inconsistencies in diagnostic processes but found that treatment largely followed established guidelines, demonstrating that neurosyphilis, despite its complexity, can be effectively managed.
Unusual demyelinating disease in a patient with HIV infection.
J Neurovirol
August 2024
Department of Neurology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.
Demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) disorders are a diverse group of conditions characterised by damage to the myelin sheath. These include not only primary autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), but secondary demyelinating conditions caused by infection and neoplasm, where immunosuppressive therapy may worsen the condition or delay definitive treatment. We describe a young man with an unusual presentation of CNS demyelinating disease associated with HIV infection and positive syphilis serology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!