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Neurosyphilis (NS) has multiple clinical presentations, and no consensus has been reached regarding its definition. NS is now thought of as a continuum that begins with asymptomatic invasion of the leptomeninges that may progress to early symptomatic disease, to meningovascular disease, and finally to late parenchymatous involvement manifested by general paresis and tabes dorsalis. The diagnosis of NS is challenging because no definitive set of diagnostic tests has been identified. The diagnosis is entertained for patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) abnormalities along with a positive treponemal or nontreponemal serologic test and neurologic or ocular symptoms.
To ascertain if a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) for the tpp47 gene …