Neurosyphilis in the antibiotic era

Among 30 patients with neurosyphilis diagnosed between 1970 and 1981, 43% had symptoms attributable to neurosyphilis, 43% had unrelated symptoms, and 14% were asymptomatic. Serum VDRL was positive in 86%, and the CSF VDRL was positive in 53%. Meningovascular and vascular syphilis were relatively more common than in the prepenicillin era; tabes dorsalis and general paresis were unchanged in relative frequency.