Syphilitic aortic aneurysm with spastic paraparesis: a novel presentation and review of the literature

Abstract

Syphilitic aortic aneurismal erosion into the vertebral column with associated neurological dysfunction is extraordinarily rare, and the very few reported cases typically involve the descending aorta. We describe the novel presentation of a 55 year old man with a syphilitic aneurysm of the ascending aorta and arch causing spinal erosion with spastic paraparesis. Clinicians must remain cognizant that the resurgence of primary and secondary syphilis, exacerbated by the unrelenting HIV-AIDS epidemic, portends an increasing incidence of tertiary manifestations such as aortic aneurysm formation with its myriad complications including compressive myelopathy.