Optimal treatment for asymptomatic neurosyphilis

In the pre-penicillin era, patients with asymptomatic neurosyphilis (ANS) were more likely to develop long-term neurological sequelae than those patients with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Although benzathine penicillin G cannot achieve treponemicidal levels in the CSF, decreased rates of neurol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of STD & AIDS 2012-10, Vol.23 (10), p.756-757
Main Authors: Tsai, H C, Sy, C L, Lee, S S J, Wann, S R, Chen, Y S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
AIDS/HIV
Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use
Antibiotics
CD4 Lymphocyte Count
HIV Infections - microbiology
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Male
Neurosyphilis - drug therapy
Neurosyphilis - virology
Penicillin G Benzathine - therapeutic use
Spinal Puncture
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Summary:In the pre-penicillin era, patients with asymptomatic neurosyphilis (ANS) were more likely to develop long-term neurological sequelae than those patients with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Although benzathine penicillin G cannot achieve treponemicidal levels in the CSF, decreased rates of neurological complications of syphilis and non-treponemal titre serological responses are usually observed after treatment with this antibiotic. We here a homosexual man with ANS successfully treated with benzathine penicillin G. This case suggests that reconsideration on the necessity of a lumbar puncture in HIV-infected patients with ANS is warranted.
ISSN:0956-4624
1758-1052
DOI:10.1258/ijsa.2012.012124