Status epilepticus revealing syphilitic meningoencephalitis

Abstract

The incidence of seizures in neurosyphilis ranges from 14 to 60%, however, neurosyphillis presenting with status epilepticus (SE) is rare. We report the case of a 49 year old man with no history of epilepsy and with a 9-year history of untreated syphilitic chancre. He presented in October 2005 with four stereotyped epileptic seizures lasting less than 2 minutes followed by a prolonged seizure lasting 20 minutes without recovery of consciousness. He regained consciousness after admission in intensive care unit for SE management. Brain CT scan showed disappearance of cortical sulci with collapse of ventricles. Ophthalmological examination revealed papillary hyperemia. Interictal EEG showed bi-frontal bi- and triphasic spikes. Syphilitic serology in blood then in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) confirmed the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. The clinical course was favorable after early administration of penicillin and carbamazepine with total remission of seizures. We underline the rarity of neurosyphilis vasculitis as possible etiology of SE and underline the crucial value of syphilitic serology in blood then in CSF, especially within any atypical presentation of encephalitis, meningoencephalitis; or encephalitis and vasculitis. We highlight the very good prognosis if treated precociously.