Cerebrospinal Fluid in the Diagnosis of Syphilis
Authors: CONNIE WHITESIDE-YIM
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1986)

Letters and Corrections1 August 1986Cerebrospinal Fluid in the Diagnosis of SyphilisCONNIE WHITESIDE-YIM, M.D., STEPHEN MCCURDY, M.D., FAITH T. FITZGERALD, M.D.CONNIE WHITESIDE-YIM, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, STEPHEN MCCURDY, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, FAITH T. FITZGERALD, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-105-2-295 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: In their recent study Dans and coworkers (1) question the appropriateness of the current recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for lumbar puncture in patients with asymptomatic untreated syphilis. Their study appears to examine the prevalence of neurosyphilis in 2536 patients. However, only 226 patients had a positive serum fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test, and only 40 patients were documented by chart review to have had lumbar puncture specifically for assessment of "asymptomatic" neurosyphilis. Because the CDC criteria for doing a lumbar puncture to rule out neurosyphilis specify that the patient should have a...References1. DANSCAFFERTYOTTERJOHNSON PLSR. Inappropriate use of the cerebrospinal fluid Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test to exclude neurosyphilis. Ann Intern Med. 1986;104:86-9. LinkGoogle Scholar2. . 1982 STD treatment guidelines. MMWR. 1982;31(suppl):50S-3S. Google Scholar3. FELMANNIKITAS YJ. Syphilis serology today. Arch Dermatol. 1980;116:84-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. DUCASROBSON JH. Cerebrospinal fluid penicillin levels during therapy for latent syphilis. JAMA. 1981;246:2583-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. GREENEMILLERBYNUM BNT. 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The Oslo study of the natural history of untreated syphilis: an epidemiologic investigation based on a restudy of the Boeck-Bruusgaard material—a review and appraisal. J Chronic Dis. 1955;2:311-44. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. FERNANDO W. Cerebrospinal fluid findings after treatment of early syphilis with penicillin. Br J Vener Dis. 1965;41:168-9. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. HAHNCLARK RE. Asymptomatic neurosyphilis: prognosis. Am J Syph Gonorrhea Vener Dis. 1946;30:513-48. MedlineGoogle Scholar5. NIELSEN J. Prognostic importance of spinal fluid examination in syphilis: a follow-up study of 428 syphilitic patients 3-37 years after lumbar puncture in latency. Acta Derm Venereol [Suppl] (Stockh). 1952;29:223-30. Google Scholar6. HAHNCUTLERCURTIS RJA. Penicillin treatment in asymptomatic central nervous system syphilis: probability of progression to symptomatic neurosyphilis. AMA Arch Dermatol. 1956;74:355-66. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. TRAMONT E. Persistence of Treponema pallidum following penicillin G therapy: report of two cases. JAMA. 1976;236:2206-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. WIESELROSESILVERSACKSBERNSTEIN JDAHR. Lumbar puncture in asymptomatic late syphilis: an analysis of the benefits and risks. Arch Intern Med. 1985;145:465-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. COREYKNOXPERKINSNOBLELEEDANS LSRRRP. Countering the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases: a call to action. J Infect Dis. 1982;145:422-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: CONNIE WHITESIDE-YIM, M.D.; STEPHEN MCCURDY, M.D.; FAITH T. FITZGERALD, M.D.Affiliations: University of California Davis Medical Center Sacramento, CA 95817 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 August 1986Volume 105, Issue 2Page: 295-297KeywordsCerebrospinal fluidChartsFluorescent treponemal antibody absorption testingLumbar punctureSyphilis ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 August 1986 PDF downloadLoading ...