De Novo status epilepticus as the presenting sign of neurosyphilis

Although the incidence of seizures in neurosyphilis ranges from 14 to 60%, status epilepticus (SE) as a presenting complaint of neurosyphilis is defin itely rare. A 44-year-old human immunodeficiency virus (HN)-negative man wi th no history of epilepsy suddenly presented with acute mental confusion an d was diagnosed as having a de novo complex partial nonconvulsive SE. Cereb rospinal fluid (CSF) findings, neuroimaging, and clinical course indicated that SE was the presenting symptom of an undiagnosed syphilitic meningovasc ulitis. The case is presented with a review of previous reports to emphasiz e the differential features and to underscore the importance of considering neurosyphilis among the possible causes of de novo SE.