Neurosyphilis in a young man.

New cases of neurosyphilis are comparatively rare. The epidemiology and clinical presentation of neurosyphilis are described. The article describes the presentation of general paresis in a 34 year old man, 10 years after he had been ineffectively treated with penicillin for secondary syphilis. The various laboratory tests for syphilis are reviewed. The Venereal Disease Research Laboratories (VDRL) is currently the best screening test and the Fluorescent Treponema Antibody-Absorption test (FTA-ABS) is the current recommended specific test for syphilis. Central nervous system involvement is confirmed in the laboratory by a positive VDRL on the cerebrospinal fluid. Physicians should be on the alert for this cause of dementia which may, once again, be increasing in frequency.