Management of neurosyphilis: time for a new approach?

Intern Med J. 2018 Feb;48(2):204-206. doi: 10.1111/imj.13703.

Abstract

Given the long term sequelae of untreated neurosyphilis and insensitive tests to detect treponemes in the cerebrospinal fluid, questions regarding the utility of a lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid analysis either to confirm or exclude neurosyphilis are raised.

Keywords: cerebrospinal fluid; neurosyphilis; rapid plasma reagin; syphilis; syphilis serology.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Australasia / epidemiology
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine / methods
  • Disease Management*
  • Humans
  • Neurosyphilis / diagnosis*
  • Neurosyphilis / epidemiology
  • Neurosyphilis / therapy*
  • Syphilis Serodiagnosis / methods
  • Time Factors
  • Treponema pallidum / isolation & purification*