myelosyphilis

a type of late tertiary syphilis, seen predominantly in men; its major clinical manifestations are ataxia, urinary incontinence, and brief lancinating pains ("lightning pains"), which can affect any portion of the body, but particularly the legs; clinical abnormalities are Argyll-Robertson pupils, optic atrophy, impaired vibration and position sense, as well as absent deep tendon reflexes in the lower limbs, and a positive Romberg sign; pathologic studies reveal marked thinning of the dorsal roots, principally in the lumbosacral region, and degeneration of the posterior columns of the spinal cord; often no evidence of active syphilis is present at this late stage.

Synonym(s): myelosyphilis, posterior sclerosis, posterior spinal sclerosis, tabes dorsales

Type of neurosyphilis in which the posterior roots of the spinal cord, especially in the lumbosacral area, are the principal sites of infection, resulting in ataxia, hypotonia, impotence, constipation, hypotonic bladder, areflexia, and Romberg sign; other findings include lancinating pains (most often in the legs), visceral crises, Argyll-Robertson pupils, optic atrophy, and neuropathic joints. In most patients, the cerebrospinal fluid contains antibodies to Treponema pallidum.
Synonym(s): tabes dorsalis.

Type of late tertiary syphilis, seen predominantly in men; its major clinical manifestations are ataxia, urinary incontinence, and brief lancinating pains ("lightning pains"), which can affect any portion of the body, but particularly the legs.
Synonym(s): tabes dorsalis.