Elevated cerebrospinal fluid nitrite level in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with neurosyphilis

摘要

Background/Purpose: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis coinfection is a common phenomenon. A percentage of neurosyphilis cases is asymptomatic in HIV-infected patients. The diagnosis of neurosyphilis is more difficult because of the alteration of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) presentation by the HIV itself. The CSF levels of the degradation products of nitric oxide (NO; e.g., nitrate and nitrite) are reportedly elevated in animals and patients with bacterial meningitis. We hypothesized that an elevated CSF nitrite concentration may be present in patients coinfected with HIV and neurosyphilis.