Neurosyphilis presenting with myelitis-case series and literature review

Abstract Syphilitic myelitis is an extremely rare manifestation of neurosyphilis and often misdiagnosed. However, a small amount of literature describe its clinical manifestations and neuroimaging features, and there is no relevant data on the prognosis, especially the long follow-up prognosis. In this paper, four syphilitic myelitis patients admitted to our hospital between July 2012 and July 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Of the four patients, two females and two males. Treatment included intravenous penicillin G, with 24 million units of penicillin G per day administered intravenously for 14 days. Three patients were also treated with corticosteroids. The prognosis were well in three cases who received early anti-syphilis treatment, but one case who received delayed treatment due to misdiagnosis had no improvement. Neurosyphilis should be considered when there is long-segment myelopathy. Anti-treponemal antibiotics and corticosteroid therapy may improve neurological prognosis.