Presentation
The presentation, evolution, and treatment of this unusual form of vascular syphilis are discussed. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Acute syphilitic transverse myelitis: unusual presentation of meningovascular syphilis. Abstract A case of meningovascular syphilis presenting with the rare spinal cord manifestations is reported. [sti.bmj.com]
As with the clinical features, neurosyphilis can have a variety of radiographic presentations 1-3. [radiopaedia.org]
Entire Body System
- Asymptomatic
[…] neurosyphilis. 03:12 So if a patient presents with asymptomatic neurosyphilis unless you treat them, they're going very likely to develop symptomatic neurosyphilis. 03:30 And that brings us to a discussion of syphilitic meningitis. 03:35 About 50% or [lecturio.com]
Early neurosyphilis asymptomatic neurosyphilis patients are asymptomatic and will only have evidence of neurosyphilis in CSF analysis 1,4 occurs weeks to months after infection 3,4 acute syphilitic meningitis clinical features identical to those of a [radiopaedia.org]
Patients with secondary syphilis should be tested for other STDs and for asymptomatic neurosyphilis. Asymptomatic, latent syphilis is diagnosed when reaginic and treponemal STSs are positive in the absence of symptoms or signs of active syphilis. [merckmanuals.com]
Latent stage [ edit ] The latent stage is the asymptomatic stage, which includes two phases. The two phases of the asymptomatic stage include early (within one year of exposure and infection) and late(after one year of exposure and infection). [en.wikipedia.org]
Stages of neurosyphilis Stage Symptoms Asymptomatic None Symptomatic Early Meningeal Meningovascular Late Gummatous Cerebral Spinal compression Parenchymatous General paresis Tabes dorsalis Optic atrophy Table 2. 2012) Neurosifilis meningovascular con [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]
- Constitutional Symptom
symptoms Specific features Polymorphic rash Typically nonpruritic macular or papular rash Disseminated ; involves trunk and extremities, also the palms and soles Reddish-brown or copper -colored Heals within 6 months ;, but may recur Condylomata lata [amboss.com]
It presents as low-grade fever, secondary rash, and other constitutional symptoms such as headache, pharyngitis, and malaise. [emdocs.net]
Secondary Syphilis Hematogenous spread of T. pallidum produces the symptoms of secondary syphilis. Some patients are asymptomatic while others have constitutional symptoms including fever, malaise, and generalized lymphadenopathy. [health.am]
The disseminated disease can cause constitutional symptoms and condylomata lata. Many treponemes are present in chancres in the primary stage; however, condylomata lata is usually present in the secondary stage. [en.wikipedia.org]
- Anemia
Infection can be asymptomatic, especially in the first weeks of life; or it may have multi-system manifestation, including osteitis, hepatitis, lymphadenopathy, pneumonitis, mucocutaneous lesions, anemia, and hemorrhage. [meddean.luc.edu]
There are generalized skin rashes, nasal deformity. hepatitis, meningitis, anemia and bone lesions. Late syphilis manifestations appear in the first few weeks of the life. They may not be able to thrive. There is a bone sclerosis. [labpedia.net]
- Congestive Heart Failure
This condition is known as heart failure. See separate leaflets called Congestive Heart Failure and Anatomy of the heart for more details. Gummatous disease. Gummas are soft growths (tumours) caused by inflammation. [patient.info]
Gastrointestinal
- Vomiting
headache. 03:55 And sometimes the vomiting is projectile, sort of effortless vomiting. 04:02 That's a sign of increased intracranial pressure. 04:06 Or they may have acute hydrocephalus without any focal signs. 04:11 And some patients may have meningitis [lecturio.com]
Along with this, there are bladder disorders, erectile dysfunction and delayed ejaculation in men, acute abdominal pain and vomiting (visceral crises). [minclinic.ru]
DISCUSSION Symptomatic meningitis may occur years later, with headache and neck pain, confusion, nausea, vomiting, stiffness, seizures, decreased visual acuity, cranial neuropathies, cerebral arteritis, syphilitic leptomeningitis or gums causing back [revistanefrologia.com]
He had previous flu-like syndrome with abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea for three days. The present symptoms started with slight weakness of bilateral legs after he was awake. [file.scirp.org]
Symptoms include: nausea vomiting a stiff neck a headache It may also cause a loss of hearing or vision. Meningovascular neurosyphilis This is a more serious form of meningeal neurosyphilis. In this case, you would also have had at least one stroke. [healthline.com]
- Nausea
[…] of syphilitic meningitis. 03:35 About 50% or more recall having had a chancre or some kind of rash that was consistent with secondary syphilis, or they may have had both. 03:47 The classic findings are signs of increased intracranial pressure such as nausea [lecturio.com]
DISCUSSION Symptomatic meningitis may occur years later, with headache and neck pain, confusion, nausea, vomiting, stiffness, seizures, decreased visual acuity, cranial neuropathies, cerebral arteritis, syphilitic leptomeningitis or gums causing back [revistanefrologia.com]
Symptoms include: nausea vomiting a stiff neck a headache It may also cause a loss of hearing or vision. Meningovascular neurosyphilis This is a more serious form of meningeal neurosyphilis. In this case, you would also have had at least one stroke. [healthline.com]
Jeerakathil CMAJ June 05, 2007 176 (12) 1699-1700; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.070371 © 2007 Canadian Medical Association Case 1: A previously healthy 51-year-old man came to hospital complaining of headache of 3 weeks' duration and several days of nausea [cmaj.ca]
[…] like; heart attack, obstruction to blood flow (ischemia, occlusion), and blood clot formations General Paresis of the Insane Tabes Dorsalis Optic Atrophy Tertiary Syphilis: Neurosyphilis – Meningovascular signs and symptoms include: Stroke Vomiting and nausea [dovemed.com]
Skin
- Skin Ulcer
This is classically (40% of the time) a single firm, painless, non-itchy skin ulceration with a clean base and sharp borders between 0.3 and 3 cm in size. Occasionally multiple lesions may be present. [austincc.edu]
Unusual skin ulceration in an HIV-positive patient who had cutaneous syphilis and neurosyphilis. Br J Dermatol. 1997 Jun; 136 (6):946–948. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ] 228. Breustedt W, Krause H, Leonhard T, Porstmann T, Volk D. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Molecular differentiation of Treponema pallidum subspecies in skin ulceration clinically suspected as yaws in Vanuatu using real-time multiplex PCR and serological methods. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 92, 134–138 (2014). 128. Liu, H., Rodes, B., Chen, C. [nature.com]
Eyes
- Diplopia
Luxon et al describe patients presenting with diplopia due to sixth nerve palsy, deterioration of vision due to optic neuritis, primary optic atrophy or choroidoretinitis, and otological symptoms such as sudden deafness or repeated vertigo. [kraeplinpsychiatry.wordpress.com]
Musculoskeletal
- Neuropathic Arthropathy
Total knee arthroplasty in neuropathic arthropathy. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2002 Mar. 84(2):216-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. Marra CM, Maxwell CL, Tantalo LC, Sahi SK, Lukehart SA. [emedicine.medscape.com]
Neurologic
- Headache
Headaches and vasculitis; Tonsilar ectopia and headaches; Post-traumatic headaches; Metabolic headaches; Temporomandibular joint disorders, bruxism, and headaches. [books.google.com]
The combination of prominent and persistent headaches and stroke may suggest meningovascular syphilis even in the absence of meningism. [cmaj.ca]
The infection has symptom headache, has symptom neck stiffness, has symptom dizziness, has symptom behavioral abnormalities, has symptom poor concentration, has symptom memory loss, has symptom lassitude, has symptom insomnia, has symptom blurred vision [malacards.org]
The re-emergence in Canada of meningovascular syphilis: 2 patients with headache and stroke. CMAJ 2007;176:1699-700. [neurologyindia.com]
Intermittent low-grade fever and new-onset headache without neck stiffness were noted 1 week prior to consult. His family history was unremarkable and he denied having sexually transmitted diseases or using illicit drugs. [academic.oup.com]
- Personality Change
When there is focal inflammation the clinical picture is characterized by hemiplegia, whereas in the case of multifocal involvement of small intracranial arteries, it presents with a slowly progressive loss of cognitive functioning and personality changes [karger.com]
If it develops, general paresis may lead to several health problems, including: paranoia mood swings emotional troubles personality changes weakened muscles a loss of the ability to utilize language It can also progress to dementia. [healthline.com]
Prognosis is generally good unless there are established non-reversible changes such as cerebral infarction or atrophy 1,10 . [radiopaedia.org]
Impairment of memory and speech, personality changes, irritability, and psychotic symptoms develop and may advance to progressive dementia. [emedicine.medscape.com]
- Dizziness
The infection has symptom headache, has symptom neck stiffness, has symptom dizziness, has symptom behavioral abnormalities, has symptom poor concentration, has symptom memory loss, has symptom lassitude, has symptom insomnia, has symptom blurred vision [malacards.org]
His chief complaints were double vision and dizziness, with mild exodeviation in both eyes in primary gaze position in the ocular motility examination, but more predominant in the left eye. [pesquisa.bvsalud.org]
- Dysarthria
Neurologic examination revealed severe dysarthria, dysphagia, and quadriplegia (left upper limb 4/5, left lower limb 3/5, right upper limb 2/5 and right lower limb 2/5). [neurologyindia.com]
General paresis is characterized by progressive DEMENTIA; DYSARTHRIA; TREMOR; MYOCLONUS; SEIZURES; and Argyll-Robertson pupils. [fpnotebook.com]
Later, by afternoon there were progressive neurological symptoms such as dysarthria and clumsiness of both hands. Within hours, his level of consciousness worsened progressively, and he became quadriparetic. [file.scirp.org]
There was dysarthria with faulty enunciation and slurring of words. His handwriting was normal. All cranial nerves and sensory system were normal. The ankle and knee jerks on both sides were exaggerated. [ijdvl.com]
- Apathy
The dementia is of a frontal type with prominent apathy, elation, attentional deficits and memory impairment. Salient features are coarse movements, dull facial expression, increased muscle reflexes and pupil abnormalities. [alzheimer-europe.org]
Treatment with crystalline penicillin, 6 million IU every 8 h intravenously (i.v.) was introduced and patient’s condition improved significantly; cognitive impairment and apathy withdrew, and the left-sided paresis was relieved. [medicaljournals.se]
[…] early being asymptomatic or in the form of syphilic meningitis or late as meningovascular syphilis general paresis or tabes doralis. (1) Meningovascular syphilis typically occurs 4 to 25 years after the initial infection. (1) And presents its self with apathy [austincc.edu]
Formerly the delusions tended to die out with progression of the disease, and expansiveness gave way to apathy, lethargy and indifference. [kraeplinpsychiatry.wordpress.com]
These include loss of ambition at work, memory lapses, irritability, unusual giddiness, apathy, withdrawal, and a decline in attention to personal affairs. [emedicine.medscape.com]
Workup
Because the face of syphilis within the dominion of neurology has changed tremendously over the years and as screening tests for syphilis are increasingly becoming routine components of acute stroke laboratory workup (especially in younger patients), [practicalneurology.com]
Nontreponemal syphilis screening tests such as the rapid plasmin reagin test should be reincorporated into the diagnostic workup of any young patient with stroke and all patients with stroke who have the historical or clinical features outlined. [cmaj.ca]
[…] reliable, inferior altitudinal defect, enlargement of the blind spot OS: reliable, normal Laboratory testing September 2016 RPR 1:2 FTA ABS + CSF 5 cells, protein 30, Glucose 191 (serum 298) CSF VDRL negative HIV negative Additional infectious/inflammatory workup [eyewiki.aao.org]
Neurosyphilis is a treatable cause of dementia and movement disorders, and the disorder must be considered as a possible diagnosis in the routine workup of patients with cognitive decline and movement disorders. [bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com]
Muscle weakness Upon further diagnostic workup, the following signs may be present: Abnormal reflexes Muscle atrophy Muscle contractions Approximately 35% to 40% of persons with secondary syphilis have asymptomatic central nervous system (CNS) involvement [psychology.wikia.com]
Cytology
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Abnormality
Fluid and Clinical Abnormalities after Treatment of Neurosyphilis M. [studyres.com]
Interesting correlations were found in relation to the cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities at the time of treatment. [kraeplinpsychiatry.wordpress.com]
There are no established guidelines for the appropriate rate of resolution of cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities in patients with neurosyphilis. [nejm.org]
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is frequently abnormal in patients with neurosyphilis with both pleocytosis and raised protein concentration. [journals.plos.org]
Treatment
Despite initial successful recanalization, he suffered recurrent vertebrobasilar occlusion, and a second endovascular treatment attempt was unsuccessful. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
After seven-days of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) treatment, the patient improved dramatically with NIHSS score of 2 before being transferred to HIV center for further treatment. [file.scirp.org]
Prognosis
The rapid identification of the pathology contributed to the better prognosis of the patient [pesquisa.bvsalud.org]
The rapid identification of the pathology contributed to the better prognosis of the patient. [elsevier.es]
Etiology
Although the radiologic findings are nonspecific, the diagnosis of meningovascular syphilis should be considered in patients with vasculitis of uncertain etiology. Article History Published in print: 1986 [pubs.rsna.org]
Although the radiologic findings are nonspecific, the diagnosis of meningovascular syphilis should be considered in patients with vasculitis of uncertain etiology. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The secondary headaches include a diverse and fascinating array of etiologies which can mimic primary headache disorders ranging from the rare to the mundane and from the well established to the highly controversial. [books.google.com]
Etiology Treponema bacteria (particularly during stages I/II) are highly contagious! Sexual contact with a partner who suffers from active syphilis will lead to infection in 30% of cases! [amboss.com]
Epidemiology
Epidemiology References: [1] [2] Epidemiological data refers to the US, unless otherwise specified. Etiology Treponema bacteria (particularly during stages I/II) are highly contagious! [amboss.com]
Epidemiology Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, belongs to the family Spirochaetaceae and is a unicellular, spiral organism that cannot be cultivated in vitro. [pedsinreview.aappublications.org]
It thus requires further studies of the epidemiology and treatment of these STD co-infected young meningovascular disease. [file.scirp.org]
Epidemiology, treatment and molecular typing of Treponema pallidum. Dan Med J. 2015 Dec;62(12):B [emdocs.net]
Our data suggest that neuosyphilis remains an important disease in Africa but better prospective studies are needed to understand its epidemiology. [journals.plos.org]
Pathophysiology
Get a quick and memorable overview of anatomy, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation from the precision and beauty of Netter and Netter-style plates that highlight key neuroanatomical and neurologic concepts. [books.google.com]
References: [3] [4] Pathophysiology Clinical features Primary syphilis Primary lesion ( chancre ) Typically starts out as a solitary, raised papule (usually on the genitals) Evolves into painle ss, firm ulcer with indurated borde rs and smooth base Resolves [amboss.com]
(serum 298) CSF VDRL negative HIV negative Additional infectious/inflammatory workup negative History In 2011 the patient had tested positive for a “venereal disease” and was treated with 2-3 intramuscular injections Ocular syphilis (Neurosyphilis) Pathophysiology [eyewiki.aao.org]
Pathophysiology The disease syphilis was reported in the medical literature as early as 1495. In the treatment of syphilis. heavy metals, such as arsenic, were replaced by penicillin 1940. [labpedia.net]
This inflammation of the membranes causes meningitis. [7] Pathophysiology [ edit ] Autopsy of Brain with Meningitis Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that is brought upon by the gram negative bacteria, Treponema pallidum. [en.wikipedia.org]
Prevention
[…] of HIV HIV Transmission and Prevention in Specific Populations Systematic Review of HIV Behavioral Prevention Research in African Americans Lynae A. [hivinsite.ucsf.edu]
Chapter 69 Surrogate Markers of Antiretroviral Efficacy 826 Overcoming Barriers to Providing ARV Therapy in ResourceLimited Settings 831 Chapter 71 Antiretroviral Drugs for HIV Prevention 836 Chapter 72 Acute HIV Infection 843 Chapter 73 Opportunistic [books.google.com]
Under this law there are chapters on prevention and control. [microbewiki.kenyon.edu]
They have to be also aware of the preventive measures and precautions to be taken, which include: Avoidance of multiple sex partners Practice of safe sex (use of condoms that prevent entry of the syphilis bacteria) Excessive craving for drugs and alcohol [dovemed.com]
Collaborative Meta-Analysis of Randomised Trials of Antiplatelet Therapy for Prevention of Death, Myocardial Infarction, and Stroke in High Risk Patients. [books.google.ro]