Neurosyphilis-Induced Psychosis in Europe: A Systematic Review of Case Reports

The tertiary stage of syphilis appears to be the most diverse of the three recognized, with a number of cardiovascular, gummatous, neurological and psychiatric symptoms. This systematic review’s aim is to analyze cases of organic psychoses secondary to tertiary syphilis, inspect the diagnostic proce...

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Main Authors: Adam Jarocki, Kinga Klimczyk, Monika E. Łysakowska, Filip Bielec, Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Pathogens
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/11/959
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author Adam Jarocki
Kinga Klimczyk
Monika E. Łysakowska
Filip Bielec
Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska
author_facet Adam Jarocki
Kinga Klimczyk
Monika E. Łysakowska
Filip Bielec
Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska
author_sort Adam Jarocki
collection DOAJ
description The tertiary stage of syphilis appears to be the most diverse of the three recognized, with a number of cardiovascular, gummatous, neurological and psychiatric symptoms. This systematic review’s aim is to analyze cases of organic psychoses secondary to tertiary syphilis, inspect the diagnostic procedures and assess the effectiveness of treatment. Case studies from Pubmed and MEDLINE Ultimate were sought out with the Boolean expression ‘((neurosyphilis) OR (syphilis) OR (<i>treponema pallidum</i>)) AND (case report) AND ((psychosis) OR (psychotic))’ to later undergo screening for exclusion criteria (according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines). Each report was accepted independently by two authors. Case reports were later appraised using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Reports. Finally, 11 case reports were included in the study. The most frequently reported psychiatric symptoms were delusions (91%) and hallucinations (81%), disorientation (about 42%) and sleep disturbances and memory loss (36%). Several inconsistencies in diagnostic processes were found in some of the case reports, while treatment procedures were more in line with the guidelines. A disease as complex as neurosyphilis requires great awareness and cooperation between various medical specialties. Despite its mimicry and variability in presentation, the discussed case reports prove that it can be successfully dealt with.
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spelling doaj-art-7d1642f2d80d42418a726e81e2e2bed12024-11-26T18:16:47ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172024-11-01131195910.3390/pathogens13110959Neurosyphilis-Induced Psychosis in Europe: A Systematic Review of Case ReportsAdam Jarocki0Kinga Klimczyk1Monika E. Łysakowska2Filip Bielec3Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska4Department of Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, PolandDepartment of Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, PolandThe tertiary stage of syphilis appears to be the most diverse of the three recognized, with a number of cardiovascular, gummatous, neurological and psychiatric symptoms. This systematic review’s aim is to analyze cases of organic psychoses secondary to tertiary syphilis, inspect the diagnostic procedures and assess the effectiveness of treatment. Case studies from Pubmed and MEDLINE Ultimate were sought out with the Boolean expression ‘((neurosyphilis) OR (syphilis) OR (<i>treponema pallidum</i>)) AND (case report) AND ((psychosis) OR (psychotic))’ to later undergo screening for exclusion criteria (according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines). Each report was accepted independently by two authors. Case reports were later appraised using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Reports. Finally, 11 case reports were included in the study. The most frequently reported psychiatric symptoms were delusions (91%) and hallucinations (81%), disorientation (about 42%) and sleep disturbances and memory loss (36%). Several inconsistencies in diagnostic processes were found in some of the case reports, while treatment procedures were more in line with the guidelines. A disease as complex as neurosyphilis requires great awareness and cooperation between various medical specialties. Despite its mimicry and variability in presentation, the discussed case reports prove that it can be successfully dealt with.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/11/959syphilis<i>Treponema pallidum</i>psychosisneurosyphilissystematic review
spellingShingle Adam Jarocki
Kinga Klimczyk
Monika E. Łysakowska
Filip Bielec
Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska
Neurosyphilis-Induced Psychosis in Europe: A Systematic Review of Case Reports
Pathogens
syphilis
<i>Treponema pallidum</i>
psychosis
neurosyphilis
systematic review
title Neurosyphilis-Induced Psychosis in Europe: A Systematic Review of Case Reports
title_full Neurosyphilis-Induced Psychosis in Europe: A Systematic Review of Case Reports
title_fullStr Neurosyphilis-Induced Psychosis in Europe: A Systematic Review of Case Reports
title_full_unstemmed Neurosyphilis-Induced Psychosis in Europe: A Systematic Review of Case Reports
title_short Neurosyphilis-Induced Psychosis in Europe: A Systematic Review of Case Reports
title_sort neurosyphilis induced psychosis in europe a systematic review of case reports
topic syphilis
<i>Treponema pallidum</i>
psychosis
neurosyphilis
systematic review
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/11/959
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AT kingaklimczyk neurosyphilisinducedpsychosisineuropeasystematicreviewofcasereports
AT monikaełysakowska neurosyphilisinducedpsychosisineuropeasystematicreviewofcasereports
AT filipbielec neurosyphilisinducedpsychosisineuropeasystematicreviewofcasereports
AT dorotapastuszaklewandoska neurosyphilisinducedpsychosisineuropeasystematicreviewofcasereports