title: Neurosyphilis manifesting as lightning pain.
abstract: The large scale use of antibiotics in recent years has changed the face of neurosyphilis, as it has been accompanied by a drop in incidence and frequent replacement of typical forms of presentation with atypical or masked forms. Herein, we describe three patients who presented initially with intermittent stabbing, or lightning-like pains in the extremities that lasted for several years, who were subsequently diagnosed as having neurosyphilis during a clinical evaluation. The clinical symptoms underlying neurosyphilis are complex, rendering diagnosis and treatment difficult. Therefore clinicians must learn to recognize these symptoms to improve patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang, University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou China. 310009.
authors.forename: Shanying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: MAO
authors.forename: Zhirong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: LIU
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*