Seizure disorders associated with neurosyphilis

Sixty-eight of 282 neurosyphilitic patients (24.1%) had repetitive adult onset seizures of unknown cause. Serum and CSF FTA-ABS were more accurate diagnostic tests than the non-treponemal serologic tests. The latter tests were reactive in only 54.5% of patients. In addition to standard anticonvulsants, the patients received 20-24 million units procain penicillin G IM during a three week period. The therapeutic failure rate among these patients was 17.3% in contrast to the nonsyphilitic patients who had 21.8-38.6% failure rates. The prognosis of seizures in GPI patients was the worst regardless of the form of treatment. The use of serum and CSF FTA-ABS is recommended as a part of diagnostic evaluation of adult-onset seizure disorders. The use of large doses of penicillin seems to improve the results of treatment.

Tabes dorsalis with sudden onset of paraplegia

A case is presented of tabes dorsalis with spinal gumma producing collapse of the L5 vertebra followed by paraplegia.

Flaccid paraplegia: a feature of spinal cord lesions in Holmes-Adie syndrome and tabes dorsalis

In a patient with Holmes-Adie syndrome, and in another with tabes dorsalis, a transverse cord lesion resulted in a severe, but flaccid paraplegia with absent tendon reflexes. Flexor spasms were severe in both patients, but spasticity was absent. The significance of these observations is discussed in relation to the functional and anatomical disorder in these two syndromes.

Cauda equina compression due to tabetic arthropathy of the spine

A case of tabetic neuroarthropathy of the lumbar spine causing cauda equina compression with paraplegia and retention of urine is described. The literature is reviewed and the role of surgery in such cases is discussed.

Clinical progression of ocular syphilis and neurosyphilis despite treatment with massive doses of penicillin. Failure to demonstrate treponemes in affected tissues

Images