De novo status epilepticus as the presenting sign of neurosyphilis.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

De novo status epilepticus as the presenting sign of neurosyphilis.

Epilepsia. 1998 Dec;39(12):1367-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/99075419
Primavera A; Solaro C; Cocito L; Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Genova, Italy.

Abstract: Although the incidence of seizures in neurosyphilis ranges from 14 to 60%, status epilepticus (SE) as a presenting complaint of neurosyphilis is definitely rare. A 44-year-old human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative man with no history of epilepsy suddenly presented with acute mental confusion and was diagnosed as having a de novo complex partial nonconvulsive SE. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings, neuroimaging, and clinical course indicated that SE was the presenting symptom of an undiagnosed syphilitic meningovasculitis. The case is presented with a review of previous reports to emphasize the differential features and to underscore the importance of considering neurosyphilis among the possible causes of de novo SE.

Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW REVIEW OF REPORTED CASES Adult Case Report Diagnosis, Differential Female Human Leukocytosis/DIAGNOSIS Magnetic Resonance Imaging Male Middle Age Neurosyphilis/CEREBROSPINAL FLUID/*COMPLICATIONS/DIAGNOSIS Status Epilepticus/BLOOD/DIAGNOSIS/*ETIOLOGY Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Syphilis Serodiagnosis
990330
A9931076

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