Neurosyphilis presenting with status epilepticus.
BACKGROUND
With the introduction of antibiotics, neurosyphilis is now considered uncommon, and accurate diagnosis sometimes is problematic as the symptoms and signs are not pathognomonic.


RESULTS
We present a 51-year-old man who had a 4-month history of general malaise and subtle cognitive impairment, combined with a normal brain image study, who ultimately developed an episode of status epilepticus as the main manifestation of unrecognized neurosyphilis.


CONCLUSIONS
Because a clinical diagnosis of neurosyphilis is rarely encountered today in the developed world, a high index of suspicion and clinician awareness is very important in early diagnosis.
Chang
Yang-Pei
YP
Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Medical University and Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
Lin
Ruey-Tay
RT
Liu
Ching-Kuan
CK
Chao
Hai-Lun
HL
Chao
A-Ching
AC
D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed