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Screening for asymptomatic neurosyphilis in HIV patients after treatment of early syphilis: an observational study
  1. Andrew Tomkins1,
  2. Shazaad Ahmad2,
  3. Darren E Cousins1,
  4. Caroline M Thng1,
  5. Francisco Javier Vilar2,
  6. Stephen P Higgins1
  1. 1Department of Sexual Health and HIV, North Manchester General Hospital (Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust), Crumpsall, Manchester, UK
  2. 2Department of Infectious Diseases, North Manchester General Hospital (Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust), Crumpsall, Manchester, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Andrew Tomkins, The Hathersage Integrated Contraception, Sexual Health & HIV Service, 280 Upper Brook Street, Manchester M13 0FH; andrewtomkins{at}nhs.net

Abstract

Objective To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic neurosyphilis (ANS) in HIV-positive individuals after treatment of early syphilis with single-dose benzathine penicillin G (BPG) or oral antibiotic alternatives.

Methods Patients at high risk of neurosyphilis (defined by serum rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titre ≥1:32 and/or peripheral blood CD4 lymphocyte count ≤350/μL) underwent lumbar puncture (LP) at a median time of 8.2 months post treatment. ANS was diagnosed by a reactive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) RPR test or CSF white blood cells (WBC) >20/μL plus a reactive CSF Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) ≥1:640.

Results Of 133 eligible patients, all were men who have sex with men. Of these, 64 consented to LP. Full CSF results were available for 59 patients. Inclusion criteria were serum RPR (21/59), CD4 count (22/59) and combined RPR and CD4 (16/59). The LP patients were white British (82%), median age 40. Syphilis stages were primary (17%) secondary (43%) and early latent (41%). Syphilis was treated with BPG (47/59), doxycycline 100 mg two times per day for 14 days (10/59) and for 21 days (1/59). Azithromycin 500 mg one time per day for 10 days was given to 1/59. At the time of LP, 100% of patients had achieved serological cure, and 66% were taking antiretroviral treatment. Only 1/59 was diagnosed with ANS. The CSF showed: RPR non-reactive (59/59); TPPA non-reactive in 54/59; WBC ≤5/μL in 51/59.

Conclusions Although the number of patients in our study is modest, single-dose BPG appears to be highly effective even in patients at high risk of neurosyphilis.

  • SYPHILIS
  • HIV
  • ANTIBIOTICS
  • SEXUAL HEALTH

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Footnotes

  • Handling editor Jackie A Cassell

  • Contributors AT conducted data collection and interpretation, and prepared the report. SA conducted data interpretation and collated data on those not undergoing lumbar puncture. DEC and CMT were involved in data collection and provisional interpretation, and reviewed the manuscript. FJV assisted in preparation of the manuscript and guidance, as well as providing support with the provision of procedures for the patients. SPH led service provision, collected and interpreted the results, and prepared the report.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

  • Data sharing statement Initial findings were presented at BASHH Spring Conference 2014.