NEUROSYPHILIS
WILLIAM H. TIMBERLAKE M. D.
Persistent clinical signs or positive serologic tests are not indications for further therapy. The cell count and protein changes of the spinal fluid are reliable signs.
The serologic tests for syphilis are one band of a broad spectrum of lipid antigenantibody responses found in all animals, well or ill. Although Treponemal diseases cause the formation of lipids of the particular type and concentration optimal for this band, other conditions may overlap it and cause "false positive" tests.
The difficulty of reproducing results even with the improved TPI tests must be borne in mind.
Penicillin is the adequate treatment for optic atrophy.
Antibiotics other than penicillin should not be used for the treatment of syphilis unless there is some strong contraindication to the use of penicillin and the patient can be followed closely.
