P-739. Missed Asymptomatic Neurosyphilis Despite Fourfold Reduction in RPR Among People Living with HIV: A Seven-Year Single-Center Analysis

TL;DR

This study finds that a significant proportion of HIV-positive patients with incomplete serological responses after syphilis treatment may have undiagnosed asymptomatic neurosyphilis, even with reduced RPR titers.

Contribution

The study highlights a high rate of possible asymptomatic neurosyphilis in HIV-positive individuals with incomplete serological responses, suggesting the need for more CSF testing in this group.

Findings

20% of individuals with incomplete serological response (ISR) who underwent CSF analysis were diagnosed with asymptomatic neurosyphilis.

Despite a fourfold reduction in RPR titer, some asymptomatic patients had confirmed neurosyphilis via CSF testing.

No significant differences in baseline characteristics were found between ISR patients with or without neurosyphilis.

Abstract

CSF analysis for asymptomatic latent syphilis in people living with HIV (PLWH) is indicated under specific conditions. This study explores asymptomatic neurosyphilis (ASN) in PLWH, particularly those with an incomplete serological response (ISR) after adequate treatment.

A retrospective study was conducted from 2017 to 2024 at a tertiary care facility associated with Mahasarakham University. We included patients aged ≥ 18 years who tested positive for treponemal antibodies (TPHA) and had completed at least 24 months of follow-up with serial serum RPR tests. Participants who underwent CSF analysis were reviewed. ISR is defined as an RPR titer of ≥ 1:2 after 24 months of adequate treatment, despite a fourfold reduction in titer, and without signs of reinfection.

Among 185 PLWH and positive TPHA, 42.2% (78/185) completed 24 months of follow-up. There was a total of 17.9% (14/78) having an incomplete serological response (ISR). There were 14 CSF analyses performed among 13 individuals, of which 9/14 (64.3%) had no indications recommended by the CDC 2021 guidelines. Of these, 33.3% were symptomatic (2 with ocular diseases and 1 with tinnitus), while the remainder were asymptomatic. Among the asymptomatic group, 4/6 had an ISR with initial RPR values ≥ 64 [(256,32), (128,16), (256,32), (64,8)]; 1/6 had an ISR(16,4), and one was part of a work-up for cryptococcal antigenemia. Neurosyphilis was diagnosed in 2/9 (22.2%): syphilitic uveitis and ASN. Notably, 20% (1/5) of those with ISR who underwent CSF examinations were diagnosed with ASN. This virologically suppressed case (CD4 counts of 723 cells/mm3, 26%) showed a reduction in RPR titer from 128 to 16 and was confirmed to have ASN by positive CSF TPHA and FTA-ABS IgG, along with a CSF WBC count of 14 cells/mm³ and a protein level of 63 mg/dL. No significant differences in baseline characteristics were found between ISR participants with or without ASN.

A high rate (25%, 1/5) of possible ASN was observed among participants with ISR after treatment for early syphilis. Despite the small sample size, this study underscores significant management implications for this high-risk group, which exhibited a higher risk for ASN in a setting with limited data.

This research project was financially supported by Mahasarakham University.

All Authors: No reported disclosures