Neurosyphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum, which can enter the central nervous system in any stage of infection. No portion of the central nervous system is immune to the ravages of syphilis. In addition, about one third of infected patients have been detected with Treponema pallidum in cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting that even the pathogen invades the central nervous system, but only a small part of patients have clinical neurological symptoms significantly. Currently, the toluidine red unheated serum test (Trust) and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) of cerebrospinal fluid have good sensitivity and specificity for neurosyphilis. However, there is still great controversy in asymptomatic patients. While most patients can produce immune response and effectively remove pathogens invading the central nervous system without long-term complications, a few patients continue to develop asymptomatic or symptomatic neurosyphilis. The neurological manifestations of syphilis may appear within months or even decades after the initial infection. Moreover, for the effect of different antibiotics in the treatment of neurosyphilis, more effective drugs than penicillin have not been found as of today.
In this Research Topic, we aim to provide an overview of advancements in the understanding of neurosyphilis that covers topics both basic and clinical. The goal is to shed light on how Neurosyphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum invade the nervous system, causing a wide variety of clinical manifestations. As well as the main points of diagnosis, the development and the status quo of the treatments are strongly welcomed. We wish to accelerate scientific communication and stimulate research activity in the specialty of neurosyphilis and related areas.
The topic covers all aspects of neurosyphilis research including Epidemiology, Clinical manifestations, Diagnosis, Pathogenesis, and Intrathecal immune mechanisms. We invite submissions of Original Research, Reviews, and Commentaries focusing on, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Epidemiology and clinical manifestations, especially the proportion of stroke caused by neurosyphilis.
• Molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of Treponema pallidum strains.
• Intrathecal immune mechanisms (humoral immunity and cellular immunity)
• Diagnosis of neurosyphilis and new techniques for detecting treponema pallidum in cerebrospinal fluid
• Multicenter clinical trial of refractory syphilis
• Comparison of pathogenic mechanism with other diseases, such as autoimmune encephalitis, Lyme disease and systemic sclerosis
Neurosyphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum, which can enter the central nervous system in any stage of infection. No portion of the central nervous system is immune to the ravages of syphilis. In addition, about one third of infected patients have been detected with Treponema pallidum in cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting that even the pathogen invades the central nervous system, but only a small part of patients have clinical neurological symptoms significantly. Currently, the toluidine red unheated serum test (Trust) and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) of cerebrospinal fluid have good sensitivity and specificity for neurosyphilis. However, there is still great controversy in asymptomatic patients. While most patients can produce immune response and effectively remove pathogens invading the central nervous system without long-term complications, a few patients continue to develop asymptomatic or symptomatic neurosyphilis. The neurological manifestations of syphilis may appear within months or even decades after the initial infection. Moreover, for the effect of different antibiotics in the treatment of neurosyphilis, more effective drugs than penicillin have not been found as of today.
In this Research Topic, we aim to provide an overview of advancements in the understanding of neurosyphilis that covers topics both basic and clinical. The goal is to shed light on how Neurosyphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum invade the nervous system, causing a wide variety of clinical manifestations. As well as the main points of diagnosis, the development and the status quo of the treatments are strongly welcomed. We wish to accelerate scientific communication and stimulate research activity in the specialty of neurosyphilis and related areas.
The topic covers all aspects of neurosyphilis research including Epidemiology, Clinical manifestations, Diagnosis, Pathogenesis, and Intrathecal immune mechanisms. We invite submissions of Original Research, Reviews, and Commentaries focusing on, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Epidemiology and clinical manifestations, especially the proportion of stroke caused by neurosyphilis.
• Molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of Treponema pallidum strains.
• Intrathecal immune mechanisms (humoral immunity and cellular immunity)
• Diagnosis of neurosyphilis and new techniques for detecting treponema pallidum in cerebrospinal fluid
• Multicenter clinical trial of refractory syphilis
• Comparison of pathogenic mechanism with other diseases, such as autoimmune encephalitis, Lyme disease and systemic sclerosis