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Neurology India
Medknow Publications on behalf of the Neurological Society of India
ISSN: 0028-3886 EISSN: 1998-4022
Vol. 59, Num. 5, 2011, pp. 795-795
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Neurology India, Vol. 59, No. 5, September-October, 2011, pp. 795
Correspondence
Authors' reply
AK Kayal, M Goswami, M Das, B Paul
Department of Neurology, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati, Assam, India
Correspondence Address: A K Kayal, Department of Neurology, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati, Assam, India, akkayal.gmcneuro@gmail.com
Code Number: ni11250
Sir,
Thank you for the interest in our article on the clinical spectrum of neurosyphilis. [1],[2] We have used the diagnostic criteria as suggested by Pope and Steiner. [3] Even in the article by Workoswki et al.,[4] it is mentioned that "The venereal disease research laboratory in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF VDRL), which is highly specific but insensitive, is the standard serologic test for CSF. When reactive in the absence of substantial contamination of CSF with blood, it is considered diagnostic of neurosyphilis". Therefore the laboratory diagnosis of neurosyphilis usually depends on various combinations of reactive serologic test results, CSF cell count or protein; and a reactive CSF VDRL with or without clinical manifestations. In our series blood VDRL and CSF VDRL was done in all the patients. In addition blood TPHA was also done in 14 of 16 patients and all these patients were positive. CSF fluorescent treponemal antibody - absorbtion, CSF TPHA though sensitive are not routinely available.
References
| 1. | Joob B, Wiwanitkit V. Clinical spectrum of neurosyphilis in North East India. Neurol India 2011;59:794-5. Back to cited text no. 1 [PUBMED]  |
| 2. | Kayal AK, Goswami M, Das M, Paul B. Clinical spectrum of neurosyphilis in North East India. Neurol India 2011;59:344-50. Back to cited text no. 2 [PUBMED] |
| 3. | Pope V, Steiner BM. Syphilis. In: Hiscox JA, editor. Topley and Wilson's microbiology and microbial infection, 10 th ed. New York: Wiley and Blackwell; 2007. p. 1838-64. Back to cited text no. 3 |
| 4. | Workowski KA, Berman S; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines, 2010. MMWR Recomm Rep 2010;59:1-110. Back to cited text no. 4 |
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