Stroke secondary to syphilis

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Stroke secondary to syphilis

Prodromal (early) symptoms may precede the symptoms of stroke for about 1 to 4 weeks. These are:

• Headache
• Vertigo (abnormal sensation of movement)
• Behavioral changes
• Irritability

• Weakness or the total inability to move a body part
• Numbness, tingling or other abnormal sensations
• Decreased or lost vision, partial or temporary
• Language difficulties (aphasia)
• Inability to recognize or identify sensory stimuli (agnosia)
• Loss of memory
• Vertigo (abnormal sensation of movement)
• Loss of coordination
• Swallowing difficulties
• Personality changes
• Mood and emotion changes
• Urinary incontinence (lack of control over bladder)
• Lack of control over the bowels
• Consciousness changes
  • Drowsiness
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of consciousness

A known history of syphilis may help to indicate syphilis as the cause of the stroke.

Tests may be used to confirm syphilis as the cause of the stroke, including:

• Venereal disease research laboratory test (VDRL) and rapid plasma reagin test (RPR) blood tests for antibodies. If tests are positive, other antibody tests are done to confirm the diagnosis.
• CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) examination, showing positive CSF VDRL test, increased number of white blood cells, increased protein level, increased pressure of the fluid, or other abnormality.

• Head CT scan
• Head MRI scan
• Angiography of the head or neck showing constriction or occlusion of the arteries

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