Generalized periodic EEG activity in two cases of neurosyphilis

Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria
Renato AnghinahRicardo Nitrini

Abstract

Neurosyphilis is a recognized cause of epileptic seizures and cognitive impairment, but is not usually associated with the finding of generalized periodic activity in the EEG. We report two similar cases characterized by progressive cognitive impairment followed by partial complex seizures, in whom the EEG showed generalized periodic activity. Both cerebrospinal fluid and the response to penicillin therapy confirmed the diagnoses of neurosyphilis in the two cases. The finding of EEG generalized periodic activity in patients with cognitive or behavioral disorders is usually associated with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, although there are other conditions, some of them potentially reversible, which may also present this EEG abnormality. Neurosyphilis has tended not to be included among them, and our present findings support the importance of first ruling out neurosyphilis in those patients with cognitive or behavioral disorders associated with generalized periodic epileptiform discharges.

References

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Oct 1, 1993·Clinical EEG (electroencephalography)·M TakahashiK Miyanaga
Sep 12, 2003·Seizure : the Journal of the British Epilepsy Association·Muge YemisciAbdurrahman Ciger

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Citations

Feb 14, 2007·Epilepsia·Mohan L NooneSiddappa Chandrika
Nov 26, 2010·Neurophysiologie clinique = Clinical neurophysiology·V-H Nguyen MichelC Sebban
Feb 9, 2012·Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria·Maria Emilia Cosenza AndrausSoniza Vieira Alves-Leon
Aug 4, 2011·Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology : Official Publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society·Cigdem I Akman, James J Riviello
Jul 16, 2019·The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology·Rhonda MittenzweiWilliam T Harrison

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