Risk of neurosyphilis in HIV‐infected persons with syphilis lacking signs or symptoms of central nervous system infection

• Published in: HIV medicine Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 27 - 32
• Main Authors: Rotman, L, Luo, X, Thompson, A, Mackesy‐Amiti, ME, Young, LR, Young, JD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; CD4 antigen; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Central nervous system; Clinical Decision-Making; Decision making; Diagnosis; Electronic Health Records; Electronic medical records; Female; Health risks; Heterogeneity; HIV; HIV Infections - immunology; HIV Infections - microbiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; lumbar puncture; Male; Middle Aged; Nervous system; Neurosyphilis; Neurosyphilis - diagnosis; Neurosyphilis - immunology; Neurosyphilis - pathology; Reagin; Reagins - blood; Retrospective Studies; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Sexually transmitted diseases; Spinal Puncture - statistics & numerical data; STD; Syphilis; Transgender Persons; Young Adult; lumbar puncture; syphilis; neurosyphilis; HIV
• ISSN: 1464-2662; 1468-1293
• DOI: 10.1111/hiv.12677

Objectives People living with HIV (PLWH) are at increased risk of asymptomatic neurosyphilis; thus, it has been common practice to perform a lumbar puncture (LP) in all PLWH presenting with syphilis regardless of stage, signs or symptoms. However, this practice varies widely among clinicians. Our objective was to elucidate the number of LPs required to diagnose a single case of asymptomatic neurosyphilis. Methods We performed an electronic health record (EHR) review of PLWH who were diagnosed with syphilis of any stage over a 10‐year period. EHRs were reviewed to determine the number of subjects who had an LP performed, what proportion had neurological signs or symptoms, and whether a diagnosis of neurosyphilis was made at presentation or follow‐up. Results In 261 separate episodes of syphilis in 230 subjects, we found the major risk factors for asymptomatic neurosyphilis to be low CD4 T‐cell count (P = 0.0007), high rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titre (P = 0.019) and lack of HIV virological suppression (P = 0.003). The majority of our subjects (78%) with neurosyphilis presented with central nervous system (CNS) symptoms. We estimate, if standard practice is to perform LP in all patients, that the number needed to test (NNTT) = 38. Conclusions This large number of potentially unnecessary LPs, along with heterogeneity of presentation, and the never‐nil risk of asymptomatic neurosyphilis should be incorporated into clinical decision‐making. The majority of PLWH presenting with a serological diagnosis of syphilis, but no neurological signs or symptoms, do not necessarily require an LP for an evaluation of asymptomatic neurosyphilis.