[Does general paralysis still exist in non-AIDS patients?]

A 33 year-old man was twice admitted in psychiatry for a non typical depression. He was later hospitalized for a convulsive seizure. Then, the discovery of dementia, neurologic trouble, positivity of syphilitic reaction in blood and in cerebro-spinal fluid allowed to diagnose general paralysis. General paralysis is a late complication of syphilis and it has become exceptional because of efficacy of detection and treatment of early state of syphilis. Now, most of cases affects AIDS patients. Nevertheless, this case shows that realisation of syphilitic reaction is always justified by any dementia or any non typical depression.