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Sex Transm Infect doi:10.1136/sti.2009.037267
  • Short report

Usefulness of routine lumbar puncture in non-HIV patients with latent syphilis of unknown duration

  1. Pyoeng Gyun Choe,
  2. Jin Su Song,
  3. Kyoung-Ho Song,
  4. Jae Hyun Jeon,
  5. Wan Beom Park,
  6. Kyoung Un Park,
  7. Sang Won Park,
  8. Nam Joong Kim,
  9. Myoung-don Oh,
  10. Hong Bin Kim*
  1. Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea, Republic of
  1. Correspondence to: Hong Bin Kim, Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 166 Gumi-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, 463-707, Korea, Republic of; hbkimmd{at}snu.ac.kr
  • Received 16 April 2009
  • Accepted 25 August 2009
  • Published Online First 16 October 2009

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the usefulness of routine lumbar puncture in non-HIV patients with untreated latent syphilis.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from May 2003 to December 2005. Participants in routine health check-ups of the Healthcare System were screened for serologic evidence of syphilis by the TPPA test. Lumbar puncture was performed, with consent, on untreated latent syphilitic patients. Neurosyphilis was defined as positivity for CSF VDRL, or pleocytosis with a positivity for CSF TPHA, or elevation of CSF protein with IgG index exceeding 0.85.

Results: Of 21,507 participants, 282 (1.4%) had serologic evidence of syphilis. 117 (41%) of these had a history of syphilis treatment, and two were seropositive for HIV. Among the 163 non-HIV patients with untreated latent syphilis, 70 (43%) underwent lumbar puncture. All the patients had VDRL titers less than 1:16. Abnormal neurologic signs or symptoms were present in eight (11%) patients. CSF abnormalities were seen in 57 (81%), but no patient (0%, 95% confidence interval: 0~6.2) was diagnosed with neurosyphilis.

Conclusions: The estimated prevalence of neurosyphilis among non-HIV patients with untreated latent syphilis and serum VDRL < 1:16, was below 6.2%.

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