title: Syphilitic aortic aneurysm with spastic paraparesis: a novel presentation and review of the literature.
abstract: Syphilitic aortic aneurismal erosion into the vertebral column with associated neurological dysfunction is extraordinarily rare, and the very few reported cases typically involve the descending aorta. We describe the novel presentation of a 55 year old man with a syphilitic aneurysm of the ascending aorta and arch causing spinal erosion with spastic paraparesis. Clinicians must remain cognizant that the resurgence of primary and secondary syphilis, exacerbated by the unrelenting HIV-AIDS epidemic, portends an increasing incidence of tertiary manifestations such as aortic aneurysm formation with its myriad complications including compressive myelopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Seid Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gugssa
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020336:Paraparesis, Spastic / Q000209:etiology*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010406:Penicillins; D001262:Atenolol; D019821:Simvastatin