Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Dynamic Visual Tests to Identify and Quantify Visual Damage and Repair Following Demyelination in Optic Neuritis Patients
Published on: April 14, 2014
Neuromyelitis optica (Devic's disease) in a patient with syphilis
Robert A Wilcox1, James Burrow, Mark Slee
1Department of Neurology, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA, 5041, Australia. robert_wilcox@health.qld.gov.au
Abstract:
The patient initially presented with bilateral optic neuritis and periventricular cranial MRI abnormalities in the context of syphilis. Blood was positive but cerebrospinal fluid testing was negative for specific syphilis markers and he was oligoclonal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) band negative. He initially responded well to penicillin and corticosteriod treatment, but went on to develop the clinical syndrome of neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Testing for the presence of the serum autoantibody for aquaporin-4 was negative. This patient appears to represent another case of post-infectious NMO. Possible pathogenesis of this post-syphilis NMO syndrome in the patient is discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
Cytomegalovirus Disease
Leishmaniasis
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology
Poliomyelitis
