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The incidence and clinical presentation of neurosyphilis in Greater Copenhagen 1974 through 1978
Author(s) -
Nordenbo Annette Mosbæk,
Sørensen Per Soelberg
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1981.tb00777.x
Subject(s) - neurosyphilis , medicine , incidence (geometry) , syphilis , paresis , dementia , pediatrics , presentation (obstetrics) , psychiatry , surgery , disease , family medicine , physics , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , optics
The incidence of neurosyphilis in the Greater Copenhagen region was found to be 0.30 per 100,000 inhabitants per year within a 5 year period. This figure is higher than incidence found in other studies from the last decades, but does not represent a statistically significant rise. Using hospital records from relevant departments 23 patients were described. General paresis and meningovascular cases were the most common manifestations. A tendency towards a changing clinical pattern of neurosyphilis was confirmed. Dementia and personality changes were the most frequently observed clinical symptoms. The classical signs of tabes dorsalis were seen in only very few patients. Stroke was a common manifestation. We recommend Standard Serological Tests for Syphilis to be carried out in patients under 60 years of age with cerebrovascular diseases, dementia and in patients where neurosyphilis could be even a remote diagnostic possibility.