Pressent clinical presentations of syphilitic dementia: A study of 9 obstionsat the Department of Neurology, Teaching Hospital, University of Conakry

Summary

Introduction. — In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), clinical and biological diagnostic certainty in syphi-litic dementia is difficult to establish due to under-medicalisation and late consultations.
Material and methods. — We conducted a retrospective study of 298 patients hospitalised fordementia syndromes between 2010 and 2019 in the neurology and psychiatry departments ofthe Teaching Hospital, University of Conakry. A syphilitic etiology was retained for 9 patients.
Results. — The 9 patients for whom a syphilitic etiology was retained were aged 55 to 76 years(3 women and 6 men). A clinical presentation, dominated by memory disorders, with decreasedideation, personality and behavioural disorders and pseudo depressive syndrome, was noted forthese patients. The profile also included the presence of neurological signs: Argyl—Robertsonsign (5 cases), vermicular tremor of the labio-lingual region (3 cases), sphincter disorders (3cases) and pseudo-Parkinsonian facies (6 cases). The diagnosis was confirmed via the positivityof serological reactions (VDRL-TPHA) in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, and the presence ofpredominantly lymphocytic hypercellularity and hyperproteinorachia.
Conclusion. — These neurological syndromes pointing to cerebral syphilitic involvement are theresult of as yet poorly managed treatment of primary and secondary syphilis in our country.