Auditory function in early syphilis. A follow up study.

Twenty-six patients with secondary or early latent syphilis were examined by auditory brainstem response (ABR) audiometry and by pure tone audiometry before and after treatment. Normalization was registered in four of seven patients with pathological ABR before treatment. while in three patients the ABR abnormalities remained after treatment. Thirteen patients exhibited a sensorineural hearing-loss before treatment. In two patients this hearing-loss improved after treatment and a syphilitic etiology seems plausible. The reversible lesions in the auditory system may be related to asymptomatic syphilitic meningitis. Permanent ABR abnormalities might reflect syphilitic vascular involvement in the brainstem.