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Int J STD AIDS 2019 Apr 10;30(5):440-446. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

1 Institute for Global Health, UCL, London, UK.

We evaluated associations between history of syphilis infection and both cognitive function and depressive symptoms in people living with HIV (PLHIV) and comparable HIV-negative controls. Syphilis serological tests, cognitive function and depression were assessed in PLHIV and controls participating in the Pharmacokinetic and Clinical Observations in People Over Fifty study. Cognitive test scores were converted to demographically adjusted T-scores (mean = 50, SD = 10) and then averaged to obtain a global T-score. Read More

Indian J Psychiatry 2019 Mar-Apr;61(2):213-216

Department of Neurology, N.R.S. Medical College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Syphilis is a great masquerader of several diseases. About 4%-10% of patients with untreated syphilis may develop neurosyphilis (NS). Psychiatric manifestations may rarely be the presenting feature of NS. Read More

Ugeskr Laeger 2019 Mar;181(12)

This case report of a 36-year-old man, who had sex with men, illustrates, that early identification and diagnosis of neurosyphilis are crucial. Neurosyphilis, being a rare complication of syphilis, is associated with a high risk of severe neurological symptoms such as cranial nerve dysfunction, acute or chronic altered mental status and auditory abnormalities. Treatment with recommended antibiotic regimens can effectively cure neurosyphilis, though the risk of sequelae remains. Read More

Sex Transm Infect 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Dermatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou, China

Objective: Changes in microRNAs (miRNAs) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are associated with different neurological diseases. Since alternations of miRNAs in neurosyphilis are insufficiently investigated, we analysed miRNAs in the CSF of patients suffering from neurosyphilis.

Methods: Exosomes were isolated from serum and CSF. Read More

Sex Transm Infect 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Objective: Syphilis is an STI that potentially affects any organ. Syphilitic hepatitis and neurosyphilis have been reported in both HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate syphilitic hepatitis and neurosyphilis among HIV-infected individuals during a 13-year period. Read More

Klin Lab Diagn 2019 ;64(2):94-97

Department of Dermato-venereology Omsk state medical university, Omsk, 644099, Russian Federation.

To study the features of cytokines in patients with various forms of neurosyphilis. The complex laboratory examination of patients with neurosyphilis and syphilis without specific lesion of the nervous system was observed in the venereological department of the OSH "Clinical Dermatological and Venereological Dispensary" in Omsk in order to determine the concentration of interleukins - 23, 12p40 in CSF and assess their relationship with the course of syphilitic infection. The presence of regularities and features in the deviation of the immune status in the examined disease was established. Read More

Neurol Res 2019 Mar;41(3):199-203

a Department of Neurology , Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of electroencephalogram (EEG) complexity in patients with neurosyphilis by comparing the changes of electroencephalogram Lempel-Ziv complexity (EEG-LZC) before and after anti-syphilis treatment. Methods The EEG complexity of neurosyphilis patients diagnosed in our hospital from July in 2015 to June in 2017 was analyzed and compared with other diagnostic results such as serology examination and cerebrospinal fluid examination. Results A total of 27 patients were diagnosed, including 19 males and 8 females, of which 6 were mesenchymal(cerebrospinal membrane and meningeal vascular), 16 were parenchymal(paralytic dementia, spinal cord tuberculosis and optic neuropathy), and 5 were asymptomatic. Read More

Front Neurosci 2019 26;13:150. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.

The mechanism underlying the stealth property of neurosyphilis is still unclear. Global metabolomics analysis can provide substantial information on energy metabolism, physiology and possible diagnostic biomarkers and intervention strategies for pathogens. To gain better understanding of the metabolic mechanism of neurosyphilis, we conducted an untargeted metabolomics analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 18 neurosyphilis patients and an identical number of syphilis/non-neurosyphilis patients and syphilis-free patients using the Agilent, 1290 Infinity LC system. Read More

Microb Pathog 2019 May 9;130:213-218. Epub 2019 Mar 9.

Center of Clinical Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital, School of Medical, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China. Electronic address:

Objectives: The host immune response could be an imperative factor in the pathogenesis of neurosyphilis, but the role of T lymphocyte subsets remains unclear. In the present study, we assessed the CD4 T and CD8 T cell subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with HIV-negative symptomatic neurosyphilis and then explored the clinical application value of neurosyphilis.

Methods: In total, 24 patients with HIV-negative symptomatic neurosyphilis and 22 patients with syphilis/non-neurosyphilis were included in this study and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples were obtained. Read More

Int J Infect Dis 2019 Mar 7;82:73-76. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Microbiology Unit, The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.

Introduction: The confirmation or analysis and exclusion of a diagnosis of neurosyphilis has long presented a challenge for infectious diseases clinicians. The authors reviewed the concordance between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and the subsequent antibiotic strategy for patients undergoing evaluation of a diagnosis of neurosyphilis.

Methods: All patients with positive serum syphilis serology referred for CSF analysis between January 2009 and May 2016 were included. Read More

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019 Mar 8:appineuropsych18050100. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

From the Department of Neurology and Neuropsychology, Pierre-Paul Riquet Hospital, Site Purpan, Place du Docteur Baylac, Toulouse, France (EHMB, MB, ER, ES, JP); INSERM UMR TONIC-Toulouse NeuroImaging Centre, Purpan University Hospital, Pavillon Baudot, Toulouse, France (EHMB, LG, ER, HM, JP); the Neurology Department, Albi Hospital, Albi, France (FP); the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Purpan University Hospital, Toulouse, France (GM-B); and INSERM, Centre de Physiopathologie Toulouse-Purpan, Toulouse, France (GM-B).

Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2019 Feb;77(2):91-95

Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Escola de Medicina e Cirurgia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brasil.

Background: Syphilis is a re-emerging sexually-transmitted infection, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, that may penetrate early into the central nervous system. The venereal disease research laboratory test (VDRL) on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the most widely used for neurosyphilis diagnosis. We evaluated the performance of two other nontreponemal tests (rapid plasma reagin [RPR] and unheated serum reagin [USR] tests) in comparison with the VDRL in CSF. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Feb 21;12(2). Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Neurosyphilis is a rare disease that until the 2000s was almost eradicated due to population awareness of HIV and efficient treatment. Since then, the prevalence of the entity is rising due to risk-associated behaviour such as unprotected intercourse. Neurosyphilis is still a difficult entity to diagnose especially when combined with acute HIV infection which can influence the usual clinical course of disease. Read More

Asian J Psychiatr 2019 Feb 13;40:103-106. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, India. Electronic address:

Syphilis is described often as great imitator due to its varied clinical manifestations. Neurosyphilis a tertiary form of syphilis can present in the form of meningitis, meningovascular syphilis with strokes and in advanced stage as general paralysis of insane. Paretic stage of neurosyphilis presents with progressive psychiatric and cognitive impairment. Read More

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Cabueñes, Gijón, Asturias, España; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Oviedo, Asturias, España; Grupo de Estudio de ITS de la SEIMC (GEITS), Madrid, España.

Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by the spirochaete Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum which is transmitted by sexual contact or vertical transmission during pregnancy. The incidence of syphilis has increased in the last years, mainly among men who have sex with men. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Dec 27;11(1). Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Department of Medicine, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California, USA.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can affect multiple organ systems, with central nervous system involvement at any stage. We present a 53-year-old woman with an unusual truncal rash with painful anogenital lesions, accompanied by patchy alopecia, oral lesions, photophobia and hoarseness. She was found to have positive serological tests for syphilis with cerebrospinal fluid findings suggestive of neurosyphilis. Read More

Laryngoscope 2018 Dec 28. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics of patients presenting with a new diagnosis of otosyphilis over the past 10 years in a large, urban, safety-net hospital affiliated with a large county sexually transmitted disease clinic.

Methods: Retrospective case series. A chart review was performed of all patients who presented to an adult otolaryngology clinic with a new diagnosis of syphilis and hearing loss from January 2008 to December 2017. Read More

Neurologist 2019 Jan;24(1):29-32

Department of Neurology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Introduction: Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) is defined as a transient immunologic reaction, classically seen in patients during syphilis treatment. JHR is a rare cause of status epilepticus (SE) in neurosyphilis. We describe a case of generalized convulsive SE (GCSE) probably secondary to JHR in a patient with neurosyphilis. Read More

AIDS Res Ther 2018 Dec 21;15(1):28. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Patients who are HIV-positive and co-infected with other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are at risk of increased morbidity and mortality. This is of clinical significance. There has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of STIs, particularly syphilis, gonorrhoea, Mycoplasma genitalium and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in HIV-positive patients. Read More

Am J Med 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Oregon Health and Science University, Department of Dermatology, Portland, Ore. Electronic address:

Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2018 Nov;76(11):791-794

Universidade Federal do Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas, Serviço de Neurologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Curitiba PR, Brasil.

Objective: Throughout history, neurosyphilis has victimized many people, including classical composers, with a wide range of clinical presentations. Six articles with descriptions of composers with possible neurosyphilis were reviewed.

Methods: Neurosyphilis is a possible diagnosis for composers like Beethoven, whose progressive hearing loss influenced his career, culminating in complete deafness. Read More

Neurol Clin Pract 2018 Oct;8(5):379-388

Departments of Neurology (DI, RE, KM, Sucipto, DO, DNL), Microbiology (DCL, A. Karuniawati), Radiology (REY, RM), Internal Medicine (EY, THK), Clinical Pathology (IST, DW), and Parasitology (RW, RA, A. Kurniawan), Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital-Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia; Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology (UAJ, DS, KSAM); Eijkman-Oxford Clinical Research Unit (UAJ), Jakarta, Indonesia; Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases (AvL, RvC), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; TB/HIV Research Center (BA, SD, LC, ARG), Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia; and Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (RvC), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK.

Background: Little detailed knowledge is available regarding the etiology and outcome of CNS infection, particularly in HIV-infected individuals, in low-resource settings.

Methods: From January 2015 to April 2016, we prospectively included all adults with suspected CNS infection in a referral hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. Systematic screening included HIV testing, CSF examination, and neuroimaging. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2019 May 8;25(5):362-364. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Division of Neurology, Sendai City Hospital, 1-1-1 Asutonagamachi, Taihaku-ku, Sendai 982-8502, Miyagi, Japan.

Early neurosyphilis commonly appears in basilar meninges, and its meningeal inflammation can spread to neighboring cranial nerves, resulting in some cranial nerve palsies. Herein, we report a case of a 51-year-old man who presented with right peripheral facial nerve palsy. His symptoms completely disappeared with prednisolone monotherapy without antibiotics use and were not exacerbated during clinical treatment. Read More

Epileptic Disord 2018 Dec;20(6):562

Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.

Curr Opin Neurol 2019 Feb;32(1):43-48

Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais/EBSERH.

Purpose Of Review: To address the important relationships between stroke and infection, focusing on the most frequent infections found in low-income and middle-income countries.

Recent Findings: Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide, with a great proportion of the stroke burden occurring in low-income and middle-income countries. Infectious diseases are still a great health problem in developing countries and it is possible that the proportion of infection-related strokes is greater in these nations. Read More

Adv Neonatal Care 2018 Dec;18(6):446-450

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California.

Background: There is a global rise in maternal syphilis and infants born with congenital syphilis.

Clinical Findings: This case report presents a 32-week gestation premature male infant with initial clinical findings significant for respiratory failure as well as blueberry muffin spot rash and hepatosplenomegaly, which are consistent with congenital syphilis.

Primary Diagnosis: This case study is unique in that the diagnosis of congenital neurosyphilis was demonstrated despite negative maternal serology because of the prozone phenomenon. Read More

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2018;118(10):19-24

Moscow Regional Clinical Skin and Venereal Diseases Clinic, Moscow, Russia.

Aim: The problem of detection and diagnosis of late forms of neurosyphilis remains relevant and to a large extent concerns the field of psychiatry. The autors study of professional activity of psychiatric hospital in this field with use of clinical and statistical data.

Material And Methods: The article presents modern statistical data on the detection of these forms of syphilis in psychiatric hospitals of the Moscow region in comparison with the indicators of 2008-2010. Read More

Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2018;118(10):14-18

Irkutsk State Medical Academy of Continuing Education, Irkutsk, Russia; Irkutsk regional dermatovenereologic dispanser, Irkutsk, Russia.

Aim: To study and compare the frequency and types of clinical course of different forms of early neurosyphilis (NS) in patients with HIV infection.

Material And Methods: The results of clinical, laboratory and neuropsychological examinations of two groups of patients: with early NS in combination with HIV infection (n=62) and with early NS without HIV (n=62) were analyzed.

Results And Conclusion: The variants (regressive, stationary, slowly progressive, rapidly progressive) and types (favorable, unfavorable) of clinical course of different forms of early NS were identified in these groups. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Nov;97(45):e13171

Department of Dermatology.

Resolution of clinical symptoms and at least 4-fold decline in nontreponemal antibody titers after treatment of syphilis is regarded as "proof of cure." However, a substantial proportion of patients demonstrates <4-fold reduction of titers after recommended therapy (serofast state). It remains unclear whether the serofast state is indicative of persistence of bacteria or only a residual immune response. Read More

HIV Med 2019 Jan 7;20(1):27-32. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

Objectives: People living with HIV (PLWH) are at increased risk of asymptomatic neurosyphilis; thus, it has been common practice to perform a lumbar puncture (LP) in all PLWH presenting with syphilis regardless of stage, signs or symptoms. However, this practice varies widely among clinicians. Our objective was to elucidate the number of LPs required to diagnose a single case of asymptomatic neurosyphilis. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2019 Jan 27;38(1):125-134. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Medeniyet University, Goztepe Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Neurosyphilis (NS) has different clinical manifestations and can appear during any stage of syphilis. We aimed to identify the factors affecting poor outcome in NS patients. Patients with positive cerebrospinal fluid Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test, and positive serological serum treponemal or nontreponemal tests were classified as definite NS. Read More

Neurol Clin 2018 Nov;36(4):687-703

Department of Neurology, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 675 Nelson Rising Lane, NS212A, Campus Box 3206, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA. Electronic address:

Neuroinfectious diseases continue to cause morbidity and mortality worldwide, with many emerging or reemerging infections resulting in neurologic sequelae. Careful clinical evaluation coupled with appropriate laboratory investigations still forms the bedrock for making the correct etiologic diagnosis and implementing appropriate management. The treating physician needs to understand the individual test characteristics of each of the many conventional candidate-based diagnostics: culture, pathogen-specific polymerase chain reaction, antigen, antibody tests, used to diagnose the whole array of neuroinvasive infections. Read More

Cien Saude Colet 2018 Oct;23(10):3421-3431

Centro de Educação de Ciências Humanas, Departamento de Psicologia, Universidade Federal de Sergipe. Av. Marechal Rondon s/n, Jardim Rosa Elze. 49100-000 São Cristóvão SE Brasil.

At age 44, after suffering a breakdown in Turin, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was diagnosed with neurosyphilis. There was no necropsy on his body, so this medical diagnosis has been questioned over the time. We conducted a literature review on the medical diagnosis of Nietzsche, which emphasizes three genres of pathographies that emerged successively as alternatives explanations for Nietzsche's breakdown in Turin: (1) narratives about syphilis ("demoniac-pathological"); (2) narratives about functional psychosis ("heroic-prophetic"); (3) other narratives about organic diseases, other than syphilis ("scientific-realistic"). Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Oct 21;2018. Epub 2018 Oct 21.

Department of General Internal Medicine, Osaka University Hospital, Suita, Japan.

Aging Clin Exp Res 2018 Oct 20. Epub 2018 Oct 20.

Department of Medicine III, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Hospital Pulido Valente, Lisbon, Portugal.

Introduction: Syphilis is a systemic human disease which is caused by infection with the spirochete Treponema pallidum. It is spread worldwide, and there has recently been an increase in its incidence. Neurosyphilis (NS) can have a variety of presentations; meningovascular NS is a specific affection of the Treponema which occurs in an early stage after the primary infection, causing an inflammatory arteriopathy which may result in an ischemic stroke. Read More

Eur Neurol 2018 19;80(1-2):82-86. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Zhongshan Hospital, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen,

Background: The differential diagnosis of general paresis (GP) and non-neurosyphilis (NS) dementia is not clearly defined. The present study examined the differences in clinical and laboratory features of GP and non-NS dementia.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively examined clinical and laboratory features of 85 GP patients and 196 non-NS dementia patients. Read More

Front Neurol Neurosci 2018 18;43:76-84. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Thomas Mann (1875-1955) is considered one of the most influential writers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. In addition to his novels and essays, he was well known for his criticisms of the Nazi party, and particularly against the racial nationalism promoted by Adolf Hitler after the First World War, as well as for his depiction of diseases. Here, we provide a quick sketch of Mann's life and his relationship with nineteenth to twentieth century German society. Read More

Front Neurol Neurosci 2018 18;43:59-75. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Édouard Manet (1832-1883) is considered the "father" of impressionism and even of twentieth century modern art. Manet's genius involved getting away from the classical narrative or historical topics and replacing them by the banality of daily life. Technically, he erased volumes into flat two-dimensional coloured planes, and distorted conventional perspective with often gross brushstrokes intentionally giving an "unfinished" aspect to the work. Read More

Acta Ophthalmol 2018 Oct 17. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Division of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Purpose: Ocular manifestations of syphilis have been reported in 2-10% of systemic infection. The purpose of this study was to report the incidence of ocular syphilis and various ocular manifestations, particularly optic nerve involvement, in newly diagnosed cases.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. Read More

Continuum (Minneap Minn) 2018 10;24(5, Neuroinfectious Disease):1439-1458

Purpose Of Review: This article presents an overview of the current diagnosis and management of two spirochetal infections of the nervous system, neuroborreliosis (Lyme disease) and neurosyphilis, focusing on similarities and differences. Although neuroborreliosis was first identified almost a century ago, much confusion remains about how to accurately diagnose this quite treatable nervous system infection. Well-established diagnostic tools and therapeutic regimens exist for neurosyphilis, which has been well-known for centuries. Read More

Cureus 2018 Jul 22;10(7):e3020. Epub 2018 Jul 22.

Surgery Student, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg , USA.

The number of cases of late and late latent syphilis in the United States is on the rise. This diagnosis is often forgotten when an elderly patient is being worked up for altered mental status. Rarely does a 70-year-old male with neurosyphilis present simply with anxiety. Read More

Int J STD AIDS 2019 Feb 26;30(2):194-197. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

1 Brain Research Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Ziv Medical Center, Safed, Israel.

A previously healthy 35-year-old man suffering from behavioral and mental deterioration for three months was referred to our facility. On admission, the patient was dysphasic and had tonic-clonic seizures. Neurological examination showed mental confusion, euphoric mood, mania, paranoia, and mild motor dysphasia. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2019 Mar 21;25(3):208-211. Epub 2018 Sep 21.

Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka Police Hospital, Osaka, Japan.

We present a unique case of symptomatic early neurosyphilis in a non-HIV-infected patient. A 47-year-old man with a history of diabetes mellitus presented with generalized seizures. He did not manifest any neurological deficits. Read More

Sex Transm Dis 2019 Jan;46(1):41-46

School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China.

Background: Early diagnosis of Treponema pallidum infection is helpful for disease management, and conventional PCR is suitable for lesion swabs of patients with probable early syphilis. We thus tested nested and real-time PCR (NR-PCR) in various biosamples from syphilitic patients.

Methods: Samples were collected from syphilis patients before treatment. Read More

Cureus 2018 Jul 16;10(7):e2984. Epub 2018 Jul 16.

Emergency Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.

Neurosyphilis is a dangerous and increasingly more prevalent sexually transmitted infection of the central nervous system caused by the bacterium that can present during the advanced stages of the disease (tertiary syphilis). Health care providers must remain vigilant in screening for syphilis in patients with high-risk behaviors as a delay in diagnosis and treatment may lead to symptom progression and debilitating sequelae years later. To date, there have been no published simulation case studies on neurosyphilis. Read More

Ocul Immunol Inflamm 2018 Sep 19:1-5. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

a Department of Ophthalmology , Groote Schuur Hospital , Cape Town , South Africa.

Purpose: To review the clinical manifestations, cerebrospinal fluid findings and outcomes of patients diagnosed with ocular syphilis.

Methods: Retrospective case review of all patients treated with ocular syphilis at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa between January 2008 and January 2013.

Results: A total of 77 eyes of 49 patients were included. Read More

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2018 08 30;162. Epub 2018 Aug 30.

Erasmus MC, afd. Oogheelkunde, Rotterdam.

A 29-year-old male presented at the ER with a red and painful left eye with sudden and progressive loss of vision within a week. His visual acuity was 1/60. Slit lamp investigation showed inflammatory cells throughout the anterior chamber and vitreous body, and a hyperaemic and swollen optic disc with retinal lesions, indicating a panuveitis combined with multifocal chorioretinitis. Read More

Intern Med J 2018 08;48(8):992-995

Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

This case report presents the clinical record of a 37-year-old man who presented with a dense right hemiplegia, found to be caused by a left medial medullary stroke. The cause of the stroke was unclear, and bacterial endocarditis was initially suspected. However, he was ultimately found to have neurosyphilis on a background of undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus and was treated with benzylpenicillin. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Aug 20;2018. Epub 2018 Aug 20.

Orthopaedic Surgery Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra EPE, Coimbra, Portugal.

The Charcot joint or neuropathic osteoarthropathy was first described as an arthritic sequela of neurosyphilis (tabes dorsalis). It results in significant joint destruction and instability. Nowadays, it is a very rare condition and represents a considerable challenge to the orthopaedic surgeon. Read More

Medicina (B Aires) 2018;78(4):286-289

Sexta Cátedra de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a disorder characterized by motor symptoms such as weakness in both proximal and distal muscles with globally diminished or absent reflexes. Insulin neuritis is referred as an acute pain in the extremities, due to the damage of peripheral nerves affecting mainly small fibers, in diabetic patients treated with insulin who achieved rapid glycemic control. Pain is unusual in classic CIDP. Read More