[Stroke, HIV and meningovascular syphilis: study of three cases].
BACKGROUND
Various clinical manifestations can occur in syphilis, especially meningovascular syphilis. We report three cases of ischemic stroke related to meningovascular syphilis and HIV infection.


METHODS
Three men, aged 30, 31 and 41, presented typical neurologic deficit leading to the diagnosis of ischemic stroke. Radiographic investigations showed internal carotid thrombosis in two patients, and a basilar stenosis in the third. CSF analysis and blood samples revealed meningovascular syphilis associated with HIV infection. The other explorations were normal.


CONCLUSIONS
Due to the reemergence of syphilis, search for Treponema pallidum infection should be systematic in young stroke victims.
Lachaud
S
S
Unité neurovasculaire, hôpital Saint-Roch, CHU de Nice, 5, rue Pierre-Dévoluy, 06006 Nice cedex 1, France. lachaud.s@chu-nice.fr
Suissa
L
L
Mahagne
M-H
MH
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D002341:Carotid Artery Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013589:Syphilis, Cardiovascular / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology