Despite the marked decline in frequency of neurosyphilis over the past three decades in the United Kingdom, new cases continue to appear both sporadically and as a complication of HIV infection. There is clinical evidence that neurosyphilis is becoming less typical. We describe a case of neurosyphilis presenting predominantly with choreoathetosis and associated hemiparesis in an otherwise healthy, immunocompetent patient. Only six cases of neurosyphilis presenting with features of basal ganglia damage have been reported in the recent literature, five of whom had HIV infection.
Case 32–1991. Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. NEJM Aug 8th 1991: 414–421.
2.
TienRDGean-MartonADMarkAS. Neurosyphilis in HIV carriers: MR findings in six patients. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med;1992; 158 (6): 1325–1328.
3.
StinglBHannyPWaespeW.Neurosyphilis 1982–1989. Scweiz Med Wochenschr1990; 120 (43): 1575–1583).
4.
HutchinsonCMHookEW. Syphilis in adults. Med Clin North America1990; 74 (6): 1389–1416.
5.
KomachiHIkedaMAsanoYTsukagoshiH.A case of syphilitic meningitis presenting with seventh and eighth nerve palsies. No To Shinkei1990; 42 (7): 651–654.
6.
LowhagenGB. Syphilis: test procedures and therapeutic strategies. Semin Dermatol1990; 9 (2): 152–159.
7.
El Alaoui-FarisMMedejelAal ZemmouriKYahyaouiMChkiliT.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis syndrome of syphilitic origin. 5 cases. Rev Neurol Paris1900; 146: 41–44.
8.
LukehartSAHookEWBaker-ZanderSACollierACCritchlowCWHandsfieldHH. Invasion of the central nervous system by Treponema pallidum; implications for diagnosis and treatment. Ann Intern Med1988; 109: 855–862.
9.
SmikleMFJamesOBPrabhakarP.Diagnosis of neurosyphilis; a critical assessment of current methods. South Med J1988; 81: 452–454.
10.
BayneLLSchmidleyJWGoodinDS. Acute syphilitic meningitis. Its occurrence after clinical and serologic cure of secondary syphilis with penicillin G. Arch Neurol1986; 43: 137–139.
11.
RodaJMDiez-TejedorEAlvarezFGuttierrezMBlazquezMG. An actual rare brain granuloma; cerebral gumma. J Neursurg Sci1985; 29: 123–127.
KullaLRussellJASmithTWZitoJLDavidsonR.Neurosyphilis presenting as a focal mass lesion; a case report. Neurosurgery1984; 14: 234–237.
14.
PodivinskyFNadvornikPLojkaJSramkaM.Stereotactic thalamic multiple-lesion approach to a case of symptomatic dystonia associated with grimacing and ballistic hyperkinesias. Sb Ved Pr Lek Fak Karlovy Univerzitry Hradci Kralove1972; 15: 507–509.
15.
CsankaGW. Syphilis. Oxford Textbook of Medicine. Ed. WeatherallDJLedinghamJGGWarrellDA. Oxford University Press1983, Vol 1; 5: 277–5: 293.