title: Intractable epilepsy as the initial manifestation of neurosyphilis.
abstract: A 29-year-old man experienced intractable partial seizures as the initial manifestation of neurosyphilis. The diagnosis was made after the onset of dementia 9 months later. Both the epilepsy and dementia resolved with penicillin therapy. Syphilis should be considered in patients with adult-onset focal epilepsy, particularly if there is associated dementia. Treatment may be successful even when the diagnosis is delayed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Somerville
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins