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Superficial anterior muscles
Superficial anterior muscles

Syphilitic myelopathy
Definition:
Syphilitic myelopathy is a disorder characterized by muscle weakness and abnormal sensations caused by untreated syphilis infections.

Alternative Names:
Tabes dorsalis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Syphilitic myelopathy is a form of neurosyphilis, which is a progressive, life-threatening complication of late or tertiary syphilis infection. The condition called tabes dorsalis includes syphilitic myelopathy and additional symptoms of nerve damage.

The infection damages the tissue of the spinal cord and peripheral nervous tissue. This causes decreased muscle function (myelopathy), including progressive weakness of the legs, arms, and other areas. Loss of function may eventually result in paralysis. Coordination difficulties contribute to problems walking. There are often changes in sensation, including painful paresthesia (abnormal sensations), which are often referred to as "lightning pains."

In syphilitic myelopathy, the muscle problems are accompanied by other symptoms characteristic of nervous system damage caused by syphilis. These include vision changes, stroke, and psychiatric illness.

Syphilitic myelopathy is now very rare because syphilis is usually treated early in the disease or as a result of screening blood tests that identify the disease in its latent (silent) form. Such blood tests are performed, for example, on individuals who donate blood.
Symptoms:
Signs and tests:

Physical examination may suggest myelopathy. Decreased or absent reflexes may be present due to nerve damage.

Tests may include the following:
Treatment:

The goals of treatment are to cure the infection and to reduce progression of the disorder. Treatment of the infection reduces new nerve damage and may reduce symptoms but does not cure existing nerve damage.

For neurosyphilis, aqueous penicillin G (by injection) is the drug of choice. Some patients with penicillin allergies are desensitized to penicillin so that it can be used to treat this disease.

Symptomatic treatment is required for existing neurologic damage. Assistance or supervision may be needed if the person is unable to perform self-care activities (eating, dressing, etc.). Rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or other interventions may be appropriate for people with muscle weakness.

Analgesics may be required to control pain. These may include over-the-counter medications such as aspirin (oral salicylates) or acetaminophen for mild pain but narcotics may be required. Anti-epilepsy drugs such as carbamazepine may have a role in the treatment of lightning pains.
Expectations (prognosis):
Progressive disability is possible if the disorder is left untreated.
Complications:
  • Difficulty with walking and balance
  • Other complications of neurosyphilis: dementia, strokes, eye disease
  • Other complications of late-stage syphilis infection
Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if loss of coordination, loss of muscle strength, or loss of sensation occurs.
Prevention:
Adequate treatment and follow-up of primary syphilis infections reduces the risk of developing syphilitic myelopathy. Safer sex behaviors and regular use of protective barriers (such as condoms) may reduce the risk of developing the initial syphilis infection.
Review Date: 8/7/2002
Reviewed By: Camille Kotton, M.D., Infectious Diseases Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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