Syphilitic myelopathy is a complication of untreated syphilis that involves muscle weakness and abnormal sensations.

Locomotor ataxia

Syphilitic myelopathy is a form of neurosyphilis, which is a complication of late or tertiary syphilis infection. Syphilis is a sexually transmitted, infectious disease. For information on the disease, see: Syphilis.

The condition called tabes dorsalis includes syphilitic myelopathy and other symptoms of nerve damage.

The infection damages the spinal cord and peripheral nervous tissue.

Syphilitic myelopathy is now very rare because syphilis is usually treated early in the disease. Blood tests can identify the disease in its silent (latent) form. People who donate blood and pregnant women are given these tests.

Images

Superficial anterior muscles

Review Date: 08/30/2010
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)