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Syphilitic myelopathy

Definition

Syphilitic myelopathy is a complication of untreated syphilis that involves muscle weakness and abnormal sensations.

Alternative Names

Tabes dorsalis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Syphilitic myelopathy is a form of neurosyphilis, which is a progressive, life-threatening complication of late or tertiary syphilis infection. The condition called tabes dorsalis includes syphilitic myelopathy and additional symptoms of nerve damage.

The infection damages the tissue of the spinal cord and peripheral nervous tissue. This causes decreased muscle function (myelopathy), including progressive weakness of the legs, arms, and other areas. Loss of function may eventually result in paralysis.

Coordination difficulties contribute to problems walking. There are often changes in sensation, including painful paresthesia (abnormal sensations), which are also referred to as "lightning pains."

In syphilitic myelopathy, the muscle problems are accompanied by other symptoms characteristic of nervous system damage caused by syphilis. These include vision changes, stroke, and psychiatric illness.

Syphilitic myelopathy is now very rare because syphilis is usually treated early in the disease or as a result of screening blood tests that identify the disease in its latent (silent) form. Such blood tests are performed, for example, on individuals who donate blood.

Symptoms

• Muscle weakness
• Loss of coordination
• Difficulty walking
• Wide-based gait (the person walks with the legs far apart)
• Abnormal sensations, often called "lightning pains"
• Loss of reflexes

Signs and tests

Physical examination may suggest myelopathy. Decreased or absent reflexes may be present due to nerve damage.

Tests may include the following:

• Head CT, spine CT, or MRI scans of the brain and spinal cord to rule out other diseases
• Serum VDRL, RPR, or FTA to detect syphilis infection
• CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) examination
  • abnormal results indicating chronic meningitis
  • a positive neurosyphilis test (CSF VDRL test)

Treatment

The goals of treatment are to cure the infection and to reduce progression of the disorder. Treatment of the infection reduces new nerve damage and may reduce symptoms but does not cure existing nerve damage.

For neurosyphilis, aqueous penicillin G (by injection) is the drug of choice. Some patients with penicillin allergies may undergo desensitization to penicillin so that they can be safely treated with it.

Treatment of symptoms is required for existing neurologic damage. Assistance or supervision may be needed if the person is unable to perform self-care activities (eating, dressing, etc.). Rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or other interventions may be appropriate for people with muscle weakness.

Analgesics may be required to control pain. These may include over-the-counter medications such as aspirin (oral salicylates) or acetaminophen for mild pain but narcotics may be required. Anti-epilepsy drugs such as carbamazepine may have a role in the treatment of lightning pains.

Expectations (prognosis)

Progressive disability is possible if the disorder is left untreated.

Complications

• Difficulty with walking and balance
• Complications of neurosyphilis, including dementia, strokes, eye disease
• Complications of late-stage syphilis infection, which may include:
  • Inflammation of the aorta (aortitis) with aortic aneurysm
  • Disease of the heart valves
  • Destructive changes in bones, skin, and other organs

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if loss of coordination, loss of muscle strength, or loss of sensation occurs.

Prevention

Adequate treatment and follow-up of primary syphilis infections reduces the risk of developing syphilitic myelopathy. Safer sex behaviors and regular use of protective barriers (such as condoms) may reduce the risk of developing the initial syphilis infection.

Review Date:8/8/2006
Reviewed By:D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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