title: A late form of neurosyphilis manifesting with psychotic symptoms in old age and good response to ceftriaxone therapy.
abstract: Neurosyphilis can present with psychiatric symptoms. The late form can occur in old age with psychosis, paranoid delusions, affective disorders or cognitive impairment. Here we present a case of neurosyphilis in an elderly woman who, over six months, progressively manifested personality changes and paranoid delusions which were initially suspected as Alzheimer's disease. Psychotic symptoms showed a good response to antibiotic treatment. We conclude that neurosyphilis is a relevant differential diagnosis in patients developing severe psychiatric symptoms in old age. As a causal antibiotic treatment is possible this infectious disease should be considered seriously in gerontopsychiatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Güler
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leyhe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003702:Delusions / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010258:Paranoid Behavior / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002443:Ceftriaxone