title: Cochleovestibular Deficit as First Manifestation of Syphilis in a HIV-Infected Patient.
abstract: We report the detailed documented case of a 57-year-old homosexual HIV-positive man with bilateral cochleovestibular deficits as a first symptom of syphilis infection in early stage II disease. As a morphological substrate, a strong enhancement of both inner ears and vestibulocochlear nerves were found on gadolinium-enhanced MR scans. The serological tests identified an active infection with Treponema pallidum. After a high-dose treatment with penicillin G and prednisolone, the auditory and vestibular functions and the MR morphology of the vestibulocochlear nerves and inner ears on both sides returned to normal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weder
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Senn
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caversaccio
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vibert
keywords: Cochleovestibular deficit; HIV; Neurosyphilis