Clinical presentation and imaging of general paresis due to neurosyphilis in patients negative for human immunodeficiency virus.
The clinical presentations and MRI of six patients with general paresis due to neurosyphilis were reviewed. Diagnosis was based on neurological and psychiatric symptoms, positive Treponema pallidum hemagglutination in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera, and serology that was negative for human immunodeficiency virus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Most patients had lymphocytic, monocytic pleocytosis and high protein levels in their CSF. One patient had periodic lateral epileptiform discharges, one patient had epileptiform discharges and three patients had slowing of background activity on electroencephalography. Two patients had hyperintense signal abnormalities in the anterior and mesial temporal lobe, while four patients were found by MRI to have cerebral atrophy. Three patients developed white matter lesions. Therefore, clinical, electroencephalography and MRI findings are valuable in the diagnosis of general paresis of neurosyphilis.
Yu
Yingxin
Y
Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, 17 Chang Le Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.
Wei
Mengqi
M
Huang
Yuangui
Y
Jiang
Wen
W
Liu
Xuedong
X
Xia
Feng
F
Li
Deshuai
D
Zhao
Gang
G
D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000472:pathogenicity