title: Neurosyphilis presenting as mania.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  General paresis of the insane is a late and severe form of neurosyphilis characterized by nonspecific neuropsychiatric symptoms. There are a limited number of case reports of mood disorders presenting in neurosyphilis, with depressive illness being the most common.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a literature review of case reports of secondary bipolar disorder induced by syphilitic infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Herein reported is a case of a 53-year-old woman who initially presented with symptoms of mania and depression, mimicking bipolar disorder, but was subsequently diagnosed with general paresis of the insane.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present case report emphasizes that if a substantial delay occurs in syphilis diagnosis and management, the patient may have a very poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. izabelagb@gmail.com
authors.forename: Izabela Guimarães
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Thiago Cardoso
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.forename: Daniela Lino
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: de Macedo
authors.forename: Rodrigo Santiago
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Antônio Lúcio
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010400:Penicillin G