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Clinical Significance of Cerebrospinal Fluid Tests for Neurosyphilis Ann Neurol 25:50-55, Davis,L.E.&Schmitt,J.W., 1989 See this aricle in Pubmed Article Abstract From 1978 to 1987,1,665 cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption(CSF-FTA-ABS)tests were performed as the screening procedure for neurosyphilis.The CSF samples from 48 patients were reactive,and the medical history and results of the CSF-Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test(CSF-VDRL)for syphilis for 38 of these patients were reviewed.Likely active neurosyphilis was diagnosed if the patient had a reactive CSF-FTA-ABS test,recent onset of neurological signs consistent with neurosyphilis,abnormal CSF,and no other recognized cause for the neurological illness.Fifteen patients were so classified.Four had a reactive CSF-VDRL test.The specificity of the CSF-VDRL in diagnosing likely active neurosyphilis was 100%,but the sensitivity was only 27%.The insensitivity of the CSF-VDRL test limits its usefulness as a screening test for neurosyphilis.The CSF-FTA-ABS test appears more sensitive for screening but is less specific than the CSF-VDRL test in distinguishing current active neurosyphilis from past syphilis.These findings imply that clinical judgment is still essential in establishing the diagnosis of active neurosyphilis.

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(click to filter results - removes previous filter) cerebrospinal fluid cerebrospinal fluid,abnormal cerebrospinal fluid,cell count cerebrospinal fluid,elevated protein of cerebrospinal fluid,oligoclonal IgG in fluorescent treponema antibody absorption(FTA-ABS) neurosyphilis pleocytosis of cerebrospinal fluid syphilis,diagnosis and treatment syphilis,neurologic complications with Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test

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