
Full text loading...
Category: Viruses and Viral Pathogenesis
Neurosyphilis in AIDS, Page 1 of 2
< Previous page | Next page > /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555815691/9781555813697_Chap25-1.gif /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1128/9781555815691/9781555813697_Chap25-2.gifAbstract:
The presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) abnormalities does not necessarily predict the development of neurosyphilis. The characteristic spinal cord syndrome associated with parenchymatous neurosyphilis is tabes dorsalis. A more rapid development of neurosyphilis in HIV-infected individuals than would otherwise be expected may result from the impairment of delayed hypersensitivity. Despite the associated immunosuppression, serum nontreponemal titers at the time of presentation of neurosyphilis in the HIV-infected individual are typically high, averaging 1:128. In general, those neurologic manifestations occurring early in syphilis, namely, asymptomatic neurosyphilis and syphilitic meningitis, are readily treatable and typically resolve without neurologic sequelae. Dependence on the CSF for determining the adequacy of treatment for neurosyphilis in HIV-infected individuals often yields inaccurate results, due to the frequency with which CSF abnormalities are detected with HIV infection alone. Neurosyphilis is broadly defined as the occurrence of neurological complications due to infection with Treponema pallidum. While the diagnosis of syphilis is relatively straightforward with serum tests for demonstration of treponeme or immune response to this pathogen, the diagnosis of neurosyphilis is more complicated. The goal of neurosyphilis treatment is to reach treponemicidal levels of penicillin in the CSF. The best determinant of treatment adequacy for neurosyphilis is the resolution of CSF abnormalities, although it often yields inaccurate results in HIV patients because of irregularities due to HIV infection alone. HIV-seropositive patients should be monitored for neurosyphilis relapse for at least 2 years following treatment.
Full text loading...
Penile chancre (reproduced from the USPHS files).
Maculopapular rash of secondary syphilis (reproduced from the USPHS files).
A timeline for the evolution of neurosyphilis. (Reproduced from Victor and Ropper, 2000.)
Syphilitic meningitis at autopsy in an AIDS patient.
Meningovascular syphilis with right middle cerebral artery infarction.
Cerebral gumma in neurosyphilis on MRI.
Syphilis of the spinal cord a
Diagnosing neurosyphilis in the face of HIV infection