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Neurosyphilis and HIV Infection

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Global Virology II - HIV and NeuroAIDS

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Abstract

Syphilis and HIV are both diseases of major public health importance globally, affecting tens of millions of people and leading to millions of deaths every year. There is a complex demographic, epidemiologic, and biologic interaction between the HIV virus and Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis. These interactions lead not only to higher rates of coinfection but also are believed to affect pathogenic mechanisms that result in early central nervous system syphilis among HIV-coinfected patients. Acute syphilitic meningitis and neuro-ophthalmologic syphilitic involvement are also believed to occur at a higher rate and early in the course of syphilis among HIV-coinfected individuals. There needs to be a higher index of suspicion for syphilitic involvement of the CNS among HIV patients especially those with ophthalmological and/or ontological complaints. While there may need to be subtle differences, current recommendations for diagnostic workup for neurosyphilis in HIV-coinfected patients are similar to that of non-HIV patients. Intravenous penicillin remains the treatment of choice for neurosyphilis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA

    Anteneh Addisu MD, PhD, Beata Casanas DO, FACP, FIDSA & Sally Alrabaa MD

Authors
  1. Anteneh Addisu MD, PhD
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  2. Beata Casanas DO, FACP, FIDSA
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  3. Sally Alrabaa MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Beata Casanas DO, FACP, FIDSA .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA

    Paul Shapshak

  2. Department of Neurology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Andrew J. Levine

  3. Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA

    Brian T. Foley

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA

    Charurut Somboonwit

  5. Department of Neurology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Elyse Singer

  6. Department of Oral Biology and Medicine, UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Francesco Chiappelli

  7. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida, USA

    John T. Sinnott

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Addisu, A., Casanas, B., Alrabaa, S. (2017). Neurosyphilis and HIV Infection. In: Shapshak, P., et al. Global Virology II - HIV and NeuroAIDS. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7290-6_27

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