Syphilis complications

Overview
The morbidity of syphilis varies with the stage of the disease. The primary stage of infection is often asymptomatic with systemic infection observed in patients with secondary stage and tertiary syphilis being a latent disease that persists for years has shown to be associated with severe neurological and cardiovascular complications.

Neurological complications include:

 * Gumma
 * Meningitis
 * Argyll-Robertson pupil which is a diagnostic sign in which the small and irregular pupils constrict in response to focusing the eyes, but not to light.
 * Generalized paresis of the insane which results in personality changes, changes in emotional affect, hyperactive reflexes,
 * Tabes dorsalis, also known as locomotor ataxia, a disorder of the spinal cord, often results in a characteristic shuffling gait.

Cardiovascular complications include:

 * Syphilitic aortitis can cause de Musset's sign, a bobbing of the head that de Musset first noted in Parisian prostitutes.
 * Aortic aneurysm,
 * Aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva, and
 * Aortic regurgitation: syphilis infects the ascending aorta causing dilation and aortic regurgitation. This can be heard with a stethoscope as a heart murmur.
 * Heart failure may be the presenting sign after years of disease.