Abstract
We describe two human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with syphilitic cerebral gummas. Both patients presented with a seizure disorder associated with an isolated, peripherally located, contrast-enhancing lesion of the brain on CT. Cranial MRI performed on one patient revealed durai thickening in the region of the lesion. A brain biopsy in that patient revealed a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate with extensive perivascular inflammation. Clinical manifestations, radiographic resolution of the lesions, and a decline in nontreponemal serologic tests for syphilis followed high-dose aqueous penicillin therapy in both patients. These patients illustrate that (1) cerebral mass lesions occurring with HIV infection may result from syphilis; (2) seizures may be the presenting manifestation of this form of neurosyphilis; and (3) high-dose, intravenous, aqueous penicillin is effective in treating these lesions.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1282-1287 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Neurology |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1992 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology