Syphilitic meningitis causing paraparesis in an HIV-negative woman.

Abstract

Syphilitic meningitis, which can occur near the time of secondary syphilis, is frequently asymptomatic. There has been one recent report of an HIV-positive patient who developed syphilitic polyradiculopathy following a recent history of secondary syphilis. We describe an HIV-negative woman in whom paraparesis occurred secondary to syphilitic meningitis. Complete recovery followed a course of high-dose intravenous penicillin therapy, emphasizing the treatable nature of this cause of paraparesis.

• Authors: T N Byrne, A Bose, G Sze, S G Waxman
• Journal: Journal of the neurological sciences (J Neurol Sci) Vol. 103 Issue 1 Pg. 48-50 (May 1991) ISSN: 0022-510X [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 1865231 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Penicillins

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• HIV Seropositivity
• Humans
• Meningitis (complications, drug therapy, microbiology)
• Neurosyphilis (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Paralysis (etiology)
• Penicillins (therapeutic use)