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Updated: Dec 20, 2025

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Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Published on: January 25, 2016
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[Damage to the inner ear with syphilitic infection]
O M Doronina1,2, A V Gurov1,2, D V Zaslavsky3
1Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Academician Preobrazhensky Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Moscow, Russia.
Vestnik Otorinolaringologii
|June 2, 2020
Summary
Neurosyphilis can manifest solely as auditory and vestibular symptoms. This review details its epidemiology, pathogenesis, and changing clinical presentation, emphasizing diagnosis and inner ear pathology.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Neurosyphilis epidemiology and pathogenesis are complex.
- Early central and peripheral nervous system involvement, including auditory and vestibular systems, occurs.
- Classical and evolving clinical forms of neurosyphilis are noted.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the epidemiology of neurosyphilis in Russia.
- To describe pathogenetic mechanisms and clinical manifestations.
- To analyze diagnostic methods and changes in disease structure over 20 years.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological data in Russia.
- Analysis of pathogenetic mechanisms of nervous system and inner ear involvement.
- Examination of diagnostic methods and clinical presentation changes.
- Inclusion of electron microscopic and audiological/vestibulological data.
Main Results:
- Syphilis and neurosyphilis incidence in Russia analyzed from the 1920s-30s to present.
- Pathomorphism has led to nonspecificity and altered clinical symptoms.
- Syphilitic infection impacts the inner ear's vascular strip, impairing the hematolabyrinth barrier and causing labyrinth hydrops.
- Cochleovestibular symptoms may be the sole manifestation of neurosyphilis.
Conclusions:
- Neurosyphilis diagnosis requires considering its evolving, often nonspecific, presentation.
- Understanding pathogenetic mechanisms, particularly inner ear involvement, is crucial.
- Audiological and vestibulological evaluations are vital for diagnosing neurosyphilis, especially when cochleovestibular symptoms are primary.
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