Meningovascular neurosyphilis: a report of stroke in a young adult

Medicina (Kaunas). 2010;46(4):282-5.

Abstract

A young adult patient with meningovascular neurosyphilis in the form of acute ischemic stroke with right hemiparesis and speech disturbance is reported. CT scan showed features of ischemic infarct and extensive laboratory studies were made before the diagnosis ultimately was revealed. Such cases could result in confusion for the clinician, and high index of clinical suspicion of this condition is required since syphilis is not routinely tested, as routine screening is seen to be of low diagnostic yield. As clinical practice indicates, it remains a difficult problem approaching diagnosis of neurosyphilis, and this is achieved through exclusion of neurosyphilis as a clinical possibility.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neurosyphilis* / blood
  • Neurosyphilis* / complications
  • Neurosyphilis* / diagnosis
  • Neurosyphilis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Neurosyphilis* / drug therapy
  • Penicillins / administration & dosage
  • Penicillins / therapeutic use
  • Prednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Stroke / etiology*
  • Tabes Dorsalis / diagnosis
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Penicillins
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Prednisolone