Postarsenical Encephalopathy in the Treatment of Syphilis in Women

Abstract

AT LEAST 60 per cent of adults receiving arsenical antisyphilitic therapy who develop postarsenical encephalopathy are pregnant women. The mortality in this most serious complication in the treatment of syphilis approaches 70 per cent. Postarsenical encephalopathy, the term considered most apt, has also been described under the following titles: cerebral purpura, serous apoplexy, hemorrhagic encephalitis, pericapillary encephalorrhagia, medullary perivascular necrosis and toxic encephalitis. There is a widespread lack of familiarity with this cause of death in 1.3 per cent of the total number of patients treated by the massive five-day arsenical course.1 Postarsenical encephalopathy was the cause of 9.5 per . . .