SYPHILIS-INDUCED CEREBELLAR DYSFUNCTION W ITH MYOCLONIA SEM-HOP PARIS, 1994

Neurosyphilis is a highly misleading disease that continues to raise d iagnostic problems, especially as increasingly atypical forms are bein g seen. The case of a 32-year-old patient with cerebellar dyssynergia, myoclonia, and mild extrapyramidal symptoms is reported. Blood and ce rebrospinal fluid specimens yielded strongly positive serologic tests for syphilis, The cerebellar dyssynergia and myoclonia resolved prompt ly under high-dose penicillin G. The mechanisms by which syphilis can induce cerebellar and extrapyramidal symptoms are discussed.