title: Optimal treatment for asymptomatic neurosyphilis.
abstract: In the pre-penicillin era, patients with asymptomatic neurosyphilis (ANS) were more likely to develop long-term neurological sequelae than those patients with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Although benzathine penicillin G cannot achieve treponemicidal levels in the CSF, decreased rates of neurological complications of syphilis and non-treponemal titre serological responses are usually observed after treatment with this antibiotic. We here a homosexual man with ANS successfully treated with benzathine penicillin G. This case suggests that reconsideration on the necessity of a lumbar puncture in HIV-infected patients with ANS is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan and National Yang-Ming University, 386 Ta-Chung 1st Road, Kaohsiung 813, Taipei,  Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Sy
authors.forename: S S J
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Wann
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013129:Spinal Puncture
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010401:Penicillin G Benzathine