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Medial medullary stroke due to neurosyphilis in a newly diagnosed HIV‐positive man
Author(s) -
Katelaris Anthea L.,
Janson Sonja,
Ramachandran Prashanth,
Spencer Emma
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/imj.13974
Subject(s) - medicine , neurosyphilis , syphilis , stroke (engine) , medullary cavity , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , pediatrics , endocarditis , benzylpenicillin , surgery , virology , penicillin , antibiotics , mechanical engineering , microbiology and biotechnology , engineering , biology
This case report presents the clinical record of a 37‐year‐old man who presented with a dense right hemiplegia, found to be caused by a left medial medullary stroke. The cause of the stroke was unclear, and bacterial endocarditis was initially suspected. However, he was ultimately found to have neurosyphilis on a background of undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus and was treated with benzylpenicillin. This case report reviews the diagnosis of neurosyphilis and highlights the importance of considering neurosyphilis as a rare but important cause of stroke, especially given the increasing prevalence of syphilis in Australia.