Neurosyphilis among people with and without HIV infection: A Danish nationwide prospective, population-based cohort study 2015–2021

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  • Christina Carolina Steenberg Schnohr
  • Fie Welling Paulsen
  • Lykke Larsen
  • Merete Storgaard
  • Micha Phill Grønholm Jepsen
  • Hans Rudolf Lüttichau
  • Lothar Wiese
  • Birgitte Rønde Hansen
  • Jacob Bodilsen
  • Henrik Nielsen
  • Lebech, Anne-Mette
  • Lars Haukali Omland

Background: Comparative data on clinical presentation, laboratory characteristics, treatment, and outcome of neurosyphilis (NS) in people living with HIV (PLWH) and NS patients without HIV are scarce. Methods: Nationwide, population-based, prospective cohort study on all adults with NS diagnosed between 2015 and 2021 at departments of infectious diseases in Denmark. Results: We identified 108 patients with NS, which equals a yearly incidence of 0.3/100,000 adults. The median age was 49 years, 85 (79%) were male, 43 (40%) were men having sex with men and 20 (22%) were PLWH. Ninety-five (88%) had early NS, 37 (34%) had ocular or ocular and otogenic NS, and 27 (25%) had symptomatic meningitis. Most common symptoms were visual disturbance (44%), skin rash (40%), fatigue (26%) and chancre (17%). Median CSF leukocyte count was 27 × 106 cells/L. PLWH less often had neurological deficits (p = 0.02). Unfavorable outcome was observed in 23 (21%) at discharge of whom 0 were PLWH (p = 0.01). Among the 88 NS patients without HIV a CSF leukocyte count of ≥ 30 × 106 cells/L was associated with unfavorable outcome (OR = 3.3 (95% confidence interval: 1.1–10.4)). Conclusions: PLWH with NS have better outcomes than NS patients without HIV infection.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Infection
Volume86
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)439-445
Number of pages7
ISSN0163-4453
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors

    Research areas

  • Antibiotic therapy, HIV, Neurosyphilis, Syphilis

ID: 362458484