General paresis

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Central nervous system

• Seizures
• Loss of short-term memory (recent events)
• Loss of long-term memory (long-past events)
• Impaired judgment
• Decreased language ability (aphasia)
• Loss of ability to calculate
• Personality changes
  • Inappropriate moods
  • No mood exhibited
  • Irritable, angry
  • Delusions, hallucinations
• Decreased motivation, apathy
• Muscle weakness (difficulty using legs, arms, or other parts of the body)

An eye examination may indicate a change in pupil response. A neurologic and muscular examination indicates slowly progressive dementia, with loss of multiple brain functions. Muscle weakness may be evident. There may be a loss of vibratory and position sense. Gait disturbances are common. The person may be unable to stand with the eyes closed (Romberg test).

Blood tests to detect syphilis in the body include:

• VDRL
• FTA-ABS
• RPR

• CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) 
• Head CT scan
• Nerve conduction tests

Review Date: 04/28/2006
Reviewed By: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.