A case report and DSA findings of cerebral hemorrhage caused by syphilitic vasculitis

Syphilis is now rare and easily misdiagnosed because of the wide use of antibiotics in the clinical. We report a case of cerebral hemorrhage in a patient with hypertension who was first diagnosed as hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage. However, treponema pallidum particle agglutination and rapid plasma regain tests of cerebrospinal fluid revealed the existence of neurosyphilis. Interestingly, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed severe stenosis in both middle cerebral arteries and right anterior cerebral artery. The case reminded us to pay attention to syphilitic vasculitis in patients with cryptogenic stroke. DSA sometimes may play a critical role in differential diagnosis of neurosyphilis.