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Sensorineural Deafness in Early Acquired Syphilis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2015

Philippe Saltiel ,
Calvin A. Melmed  and
David Portnoy
Philippe Saltiel
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology, Montreal General Hospital and McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Calvin A. Melmed*
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology, Montreal General Hospital and McGill University, Montreal, Canada
David Portnoy
Affiliation:
Division of Neurology, Montreal General Hospital and McGill University, Montreal, Canada
*
Division of Neurology, Montreal General Hospital, 1650 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1A4.
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A 36 year old male developed bilateral sensorineural deafness as the chief manifestation of secondary syphilis. Cerebrospinal fluid showed pleocytosis. Treatment with penicillin and prednisone resulted in good recovery of hearing. Initial recovery seemed dependent on corticosteroids. Deafness can complicate acquired syphilis in both early and late stages of the disease and may be its sole manifestation. Early acquired syphilitic deafness is usually the result of a meningitis affecting the eighth nerve and responds well to treatment. These features are contrasted with those of late acquired syphilitic deafness.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , May 1983 , pp. 114 - 116
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation 1983

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