Table 1.

Diagnostic criteria for neurosyphilis¹⁶

CNS or ophthalmic signs or symptoms, plus serologic evidence (positive non-treponemal and treponemal test results) for syphilis infection plus one of the following:

Positive VDRL*-CSF

Increased CSF protein (> 40 mg/dl)

Increased CSF WBC count (>5 mononuclear cells/µl)

^*VDRL is a non-treponemal test similar to RPR.

CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; CNS, central nervous system; VDRL, Venereal Disease Research Laboratory; WBC, white blood cell.