Electronystagmography in congenital and acquired syphilitic otitis

This study is an analysis of the electronystagmogram (ENG) changes in 17 patients with luetic vestibular disease with early and late acquired syphilis and congenital syphilis. Vestibular disturbances occurred in 80% of patients with luetic otitis. Among these patients the ENG gives signs of peripheral rather than central vestibular injury, and reduced vestibular response to caloric stimulation is the most common finding. Congenital syphilis patients have the greatest dysfunction, both in degree of ENG changes and incidence of bilaterality. We found no correlation between FTA-ABS levels and the amount of hearing impairment or vestibular injury. Treatment with penicillin and steroids had a beneficial subjective effect upon the symptoms of vertigo in over half the patients.