CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND OXYGEN CONSUMPTION IN NEUROSYPHILIS

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Abstract
The cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen consumption (CMRO2), and vascular resistance (CVR) were detd. by the nitrous oxide technic in 58 patients with neurosyphilis and 16 control subjects. In patients with dementia paralytica and meningovascular syphilis the mean CBF and CMRO2 were significantly reduced, while the mean CVR was significantly increased. In asymptomatic neurosyphilis these functions were within the normal range. In patients with dementia paralytica, a definite correlation was found between the degree of mental deterioration and the reduction in cerebral oxygen consumption. In patients with meningovascular syphilis, treatment was usually followed by a rise in CBF, while the CMRO2 showed a variable response. Treatment with penicillin and fever was followed by a rise in the CMRO2 in those patients with dementia paralytica who had low pre-treatment values. This increase in CMRO2 was accompanied by improvement in mental state.