A Case of Neurosyphilis Presenting with Multiple Cranial Neuropathy

Eda Kılıç Çoban, Mehmet Ali Aldan, Sedat Gez, Nilüfer Kale, Mesude Özerden, Nazan Sakallı, Aysun Soysal

Bakırköy Training and Research Hospital of Psychiatry, 3rd Clinic of Neurology and Neurosurgery, İstanbul, Turkey

Keywords: Neurosyphilis, cranial neuropathy, meningitis

Abstract

Syphilis is a sexually-transmitted disease caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum. Central nervous system involvement can occur in every stage of the disease. It is classified into: acute syphilitic meningitis, meningovascular syphilis, and parenchymatous neurosyphilis. Acute basilar syphilitic meningitis is characterized primarily by the presence of cranial nerve involvement. As cranial nerve enhancement may be seen in a broad range of diseases, it can be the only clinical feature of neurosyphilis.