Abstract

DONOSO S, Archibaldo; URZUA, Ricardo; SLACHEVSKY CH, Andrea  and  SILVA R, Carlos. Paretic neurosyphilis: report of five patients. Rev. méd. Chile [online]. 2012, vol.140, n.5, pp. 625-628. ISSN 0034-9887.  doi: 10.4067/S0034-98872012000500010.

We report five male patients, aged 35 to 63 years who suffered from paretic neurosyphilis. The clinical course was that of a subacute dementia with a frontal syndrome, with more apathy than euphoria. All were HIV negative and four were heterosexual. In all, the cerebrospinal fluid had a mononuclear pleocytosis and a positive VDRL. EEG was abnormal in the 3 cases in whom it was performed. One patient in whom a brain angiography was performed, had images of vasculitis. Treatment with 18-24 million units of penicillin per day during two weeks or more, was partially effective.

Keywords : Dementia; Neurosyphilis; Vasculitis, Central Nervous System.