{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,15]],"date-time":"2026-06-15T04:05:04Z","timestamp":1781496304261,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":17,"publisher":"BMJ","content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Case Reports"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2015,2,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Neurosyphilis results from infection of the central nervous system (CNS) by <jats:italic>Treponema pallidum<\/jats:italic>. Neurosyphilis can occur at any time after initial infection, particularly in immunocompromised patients. We describe a case of a 47-year-old man who presented with mixed dysphasia, right upper motor neuron facial palsy and right hemiparesis. Collateral history from the family revealed slowly progressive cognitive impairment and behavioural changes. Neuroimaging was unremarkable, suggesting a non-vascular aetiology. As there was no clear cause for the presentation, a lumbar puncture was performed and serum samples were sent for syphilis serology. The diagnosis of neurosyphilis was made on the basis of a positive RPR test in cerebrospinal fluid. The patient was treated with benzylpenicillin and made a full recovery, with restoration of cognitive function to baseline.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1136\/bcr-2014-206988","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2015,3,4]],"date-time":"2015-03-04T04:41:31Z","timestamp":1425444091000},"page":"bcr2014206988","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":23,"title":["Neurosyphilis presenting with a stroke-like syndrome"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"2015","author":[{"given":"Tarig Mohammed","family":"Abkur","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gasim Salaheldin","family":"Ahmed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nidal Osman","family":"Alfaki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Margaret","family":"O'Connor","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2015,3,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1258\/ijsa.2008.008279"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/archinte.1964.03860120104011"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/00015550410017308"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/00207450701239426"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.1972.03190320032011"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1128\/CMR.12.2.187","article-title":"Syphilis: review with emphasis on clinical, epidemiologic, and some biologic features","volume":"12","author":"Singh","year":"1999","journal-title":"Clin Microbiol Rev"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.7","unstructured":"Merritt H , Adams R , Solomon H . Neurosyphilis. New York: Oxford University Press, 1946."},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.8","unstructured":"Kirkpatrick JB . Neurologic infections due to bacteria, fungi and parasites. In: Davis RL , Robertson DM ., eds. Textbook of neuropathology. 2nd edn. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1991:719\u2013803."},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1212\/01.WNL.0000149758.57386.B8"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/000331979604700911"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.02522-13"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.12","first-page":"428","article-title":"Detection of treponemal DNA in the CSF of patients with syphilis and HIV infection using the polymerase chain reaction","volume":"66","author":"Hay","year":"1990","journal-title":"Genitourin Med"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.13","first-page":"162","article-title":"Validity of the VDRL test on cerebrospinal fluid contaminated by blood","volume":"47","author":"Izzat","year":"1971","journal-title":"Br J Vener Dis"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1258\/ijsa.2007.007287"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1976","DOI":"10.1128\/jcm.29.9.1976-1984.1991","article-title":"Detection by polymerase chain reaction of Treponema pallidum DNA in cerebrospinal fluid from neurosyphilis patients before and after antibiotic treatment","volume":"29","author":"Noordhoek","year":"1991","journal-title":"J Clin Microbiol"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJM199412013312201"},{"key":"2025082701583651000_2015.mar04_1.bcr2014206988.17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0934-8840(96)80063-6"}],"container-title":["BMJ Case Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bcr-2014-206988","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,27]],"date-time":"2025-08-27T08:58:44Z","timestamp":1756285124000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/casereports.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bcr-2014-206988"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2015,3,4]]},"references-count":17,"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bcr-2014-206988"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bcr-2014-206988","relation":{},"ISSN":["1757-790X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1757-790X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2015,3,4]]}}}