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A late form of neurosyphilis manifesting with psychotic symptoms in old age and good response to ceftriaxone therapy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2010

Erdem Güler  and
Thomas Leyhe
Erdem Güler
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
Thomas Leyhe*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: PD Dr. Thomas Leyhe, University of Tübingen, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Osianderstraße 24, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. Phone: +49 07071 2982311; Fax: +49 07071 294141. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Neurosyphilis can present with psychiatric symptoms. The late form can occur in old age with psychosis, paranoid delusions, affective disorders or cognitive impairment. Here we present a case of neurosyphilis in an elderly woman who, over six months, progressively manifested personality changes and paranoid delusions which were initially suspected as Alzheimer's disease. Psychotic symptoms showed a good response to antibiotic treatment. We conclude that neurosyphilis is a relevant differential diagnosis in patients developing severe psychiatric symptoms in old age. As a causal antibiotic treatment is possible this infectious disease should be considered seriously in gerontopsychiatric patients.

Keywords

neurosyphilispsychosisAlzheimer's diseasedifferential diagnosisantibiotic treatmentold age
Type
Case Report
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 23 , Issue 4 , May 2011 , pp. 666 - 669
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

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