1959•A M A Archives of DermatologyRequires access
Treponemal Tests on Cerebrospinal Fluid
George H. Kostant
Open publisher page 2 citations
Abstract
Previous studies employing treponemal antigens on spinal fluid have dealt for the most part with the Treponema pallidum immobilization (TPI) procedure of Nelson. Nelson and his co-workers1observed positive reactions in all of 33 patients with various types of central nervous system (CNS) syphilis. Interestingly enough, of 25 patients classified as latent syphilis, 6 showed TPI antibody in the spinal fluid. Durel and his co-workers2observed only 78% positive TPI reactions in a group of 54 spinal fluids of patients with neurosyphilis. Of 25 patients classified as latent syphilis, 7 were found to have positive TPI tests on the spinal fluid. Zellman and Lutz3observed a similar sensitivity of 77% in a group of 26 patients with CNS syphilis. Again, 4 of 11 patients with supposed latent syphilis had positive TPI tests on the spinal fluid. These workers conclude that in neurosyphilis the TPI antibody