Voiding dysfunction in tertiary syphilis

After years of decline to near disappearance, there recently has been an increasing incidence of syphilis in America. New cases of tertiary neurosyphilis are being reported which often have associated significant urologic sequelae. For the first time in the English literature, the uro-dynamic findings of a patient with tabes dorsalis are presented. Our findings indicate that treatment of urinary retention associated with tabes dorsalis is better managed by intermittent catheterization than by prostate surgery because of the impaired detrusor activity. A review of neurosyphilis and its urologic implications and urodynamic findings are presented. Prompt recognition of this entity should encourage a full urodynamic evaluation prior to a commitment to prostatic surgery.