Clinical,laboratory,and brain MRI characteristics of 85 patients with neurosyphilis / 临床神经病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the clinical,laboratory and brain MRI features of patients with neurosyphilis(NS).Methods Eighty-five NS patients admitted to the Department of Neurology in Nanjing Second Hospital from November 2018 to November 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the results of brain MRI,the patients were divided into two groups:normal brain MRI + unilateral lesions group and bilateral lesions group(more severe group).ROC were plotted and the areas under the curves(AUC)were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic value of clinical indicators for severe NS on MRI.Results Compared with normal brain MRI + unilateral lesions group,the mean age(P = 0.000),the rate of male(P = 0.008)and the rate of symptomatic NS(P = 0.006)were significantly higher in bilateral lesions group.Moreover,hypersensitive C-reactive protein(P = 0.028),basophil(P = 0.003),fibrinogen(P = 0.011),CSF tolulized red unheated serum test titer(P = 0.004),CSF protein concentration(P =0.000),CSF adenosine deaminase(P =0.003),and CSF white blood cell count(P =0.049)were significantly increased in patients with NS in bilateral brain lesions group.Multivariate regression analysis suggested that age(OR =1.085,P =0.019)and CSF protein concentration(OR =1.004,P =0.023)were risk factors for NS patients with bilateral brain lesions on MRI.The clinical model was established by age,CSF protein concentration,and basophil,the AUC for predicting NS patients with bilateral brain lesions could reach 0.83(95%CI:0.73-0.91,P＜0.01).Conclusions Clinical,laboratory and brain MRI examination should be integrated during the diagnosis and treatment of NS.Elderly patients and patients with high CSF protein concentration suggest severe disease,and reduction of CSF protein concentration is expected to improve the condition of NS patients.