Multicentric evaluation of a specific intrathecal anti-Treponema pallidumIgG index as a diagnostic biomarker of neurosyphilis: results from a retro-prospective case–control study

Abstract

Background and objectivesThe diagnosis of neurosyphilis (NS) lacks a true ‘gold standard’, making the diagnosis challenging while consequences of a misdiagnosis are potentially severe. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of measuring an antibody index (AI) for the intrathecal synthesis of specific anti-Treponema pallidum(T. pallidum) IgG for the diagnosis of NS.MethodsSpecific anti-T. pallidumIgG were measured simultaneously in paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)–serum samples collected retrospectively and prospectively between 2007 and 2022, from patients suspected of NS, in Switzerland. An AI was calculated to account for blood–brain barrier integrity. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity/specificity and positive/negative predictive values of AI test were estimated. Two NS definitions were used: NS1 included patients with NS suspicion presenting with neurological symptoms and/or acute neurosensory signs, and positiveT. PallidumHemagglutinations Assay (TPHA)/T. pallidumparticle agglutination assay (TPPA) serology and CSF-TPHA/TPPA ≥320, and either CSF-leucocytes >5 cells/mm3and/or CSF-protein >0.45 g/L and/or a reactive CSF-venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL)/rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test. NS2 included patients with suspected NS presenting with acute ocular and/or otologic symptoms, and positive TPHA/TPPA serology, and a favourable response to NS treatment. Controls were patients diagnosed with any other central nervous system (CNS) pathologies and with positive TPHA/TPPA serology.ResultsThe study included 71 NS (43 NS1 and 28 NS2) and 110 controls. With a threshold of ≥1.7, sensitivity and specificity of the specific AI test were 90.7% (CI 77.7 to 97.4) and 100% (CI 96.7 to 100.0), respectively, for NS1 and 14.3% (CI 4 to 32.7) and 100% (CI 96.7 to 100.0) for NS2. In patients suspected of NS with a CNS involvement (NS1 group), NS could be confirmed by the positivity of this specific AI.ConclusionsMeasurement of an intrathecal synthesis index of specific anti-T. pallidumIgG in patients with CSF inflammatory signs appears to be a valuable diagnostic test. However, in otic or ocular syphilis, presenting few CSF abnormalities, AI is not sufficient alone to confirm NS diagnosis.Trial registrationSwiss Association of Research Ethics Committees number 2019-00232.