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Description

Neurosyphilis can occasionally cause a variety of movement disorders. This is one possible explanation for Adolph Hitler's Parkinson's disease.


 

Neurosyphilis can cause:

(1) meningitis

(2) meningoencephalitis

(3) meningovasculitis

(4) general paresis

(5) tabes dorsalis

 

Movement disorders reported for neurosyphilis:

(1) Parkinson’s disease (related to meningoencephalitis)

(2) sensory ataxia

(3) laryngeal dystonia

(4) corticobasal syndrome

 

When to consider neurosyphilis in a patient with a movement disorder:

(1) The patient is HIV-positive.

(2) The patient has risk factors for or history of a sexually-transmitted disease.

(3) The features of the movement disorder are atypical (early onset, unexpected features, etc).

(4) Alternative explanations are lacking.

(5) The patient has features of congenital syphilis.

 


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