European Journal of Dermatology
MENUNeurosyphilis manifesting as lightning pain Volume 19, numéro 5, September-October 2009
Illustrations
Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang, University, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou China. 310009
- Mots-clés : neurosyphilis, lightning pain
- DOI : 10.1684/ejd.2009.0712
- Page(s) : 504-6
- Année de parution : 2009
The large scale use of antibiotics in recent years has changed the face of neurosyphilis, as it has been accompanied by a drop in incidence and frequent replacement of typical forms of presentation with atypical or masked forms. Herein, we describe three patients who presented initially with intermittent stabbing, or lightning-like pains in the extremities that lasted for several years, who were subsequently diagnosed as having neurosyphilis during a clinical evaluation. The clinical symptoms underlying neurosyphilis are complex, rendering diagnosis and treatment difficult. Therefore clinicians must learn to recognize these symptoms to improve patient outcomes.