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Case Reports
. 2024 May 17;103(20):e38149.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038149.

A rare case report of bilateral vestibulopathy due to otosyphilis

Huanhuan Gu  1 , Yixin Xu, Jin Xu, Jianhua Zhuang
Affiliations
Case Reports

A rare case report of bilateral vestibulopathy due to otosyphilis

Huanhuan Gu et al. Medicine (Baltimore). .

Abstract

Rationale: Bilateral vestibulopathy is an important cause of imbalance. There are multiple etiologies of bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP), but reports of BVP due to otosyphilis are rare.

Patient concerns: A 39-year-old male was referred to our medical center due to vertigo, persistent dizziness and gait disturbance for 2 months.

Diagnoses: Bilateral vestibulopathy due to otosyphilis was considered in this case, as confirmed through analyses of vestibular function, laboratory tests, and penicillin treatment.

Interventions: The patient was was treated with a high dose of penicillin G (24 × 106 IU/d) for 14 days.

Outcomes: The patient's symptoms had improved greatly following treatment, with dizziness and gait disturbance having completely resolved at 3 months following hospital discharge.

Lessons: Bilateral vestibulopathy should be considered when evaluating patients with acute or subacute persistent dizziness. Clinicians should also be aware of the potential for otosyphilis among patients who report BVP.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Video head impulse test. The data revealed an obvious decrease in vestibulo-ocular reflex gains in the bilateral horizontal, posterior, and anterior semicircular canals.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Caloric test results. No response was observed for either caloric test.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Publication types

Supplementary concepts