Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41640814›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2026

Progressive exacerbation of neurological symptoms in a patient with neurosyphilis following T9-T10 intradural space-occupying lesion resection: a case report.

Yongpeng Meng, Yan Bo, Hongtao Wei

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Yongpeng Meng *The Neurological Disease Center,The Second Hospital of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Yan Bo *The Department of Medicine, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Hongtao WeiThe Neurological Disease Center,The Second Hospital of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Neurosyphilis is a disease of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by Treponema pallidum (syphilis spirochete), which usually presents with a variety of nonspecific symptoms and is easily misdiagnosed. Although Treponema pallidum can remain latent after treatment, reactivation may occur in the presence of a compromised or immunosuppressed immune system. This article reports a case of reactivation of neurosyphilis after spinal surgery, with the aim of exploring the possible role of immunosuppression in the process. Case presentation: The patient was a 75-year-old female admitted to the hospital with persistent bilateral lower extremity pain and weakness and a past history of syphilis that was cured 31 years ago. Upon admission, the patient was diagnosed with an intradural occupying lesion and underwent T9-T10 intradural space-occupying lesion resection. Postoperatively, the patient developed symptoms of neurogenic bladder and paraplegia, and further examination revealed abnormal cerebrospinal fluid suggestive of reactivation of neurosyphilis. Through syphilis antibody testing and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, the diagnosis of neurosyphilis was finally confirmed and antisyphilis treatment was started. Treatment and outcome: The patient received a 14-day course of intravenous benzylpenicillin, which resulted in significant symptomatic improvement and restoration of most functions at discharge. After 12 months of follow-up, the patient had fully recovered, with a progressive decrease in syphilis antibody titers and no neurosyphilis reactivation. Conclusions: This case emphasizes the importance of preoperative syphilis antibody screening, especially in elderly patients with a history of syphilis. The immunosuppressed state may contribute to the reactivation of syphilis spirochetes; therefore, it is important to consider this potential risk and take appropriate precautions when performing surgical treatments such as spinal surgery. Penicillin remains the therapeutic agent of choice for neurosyphilis, and early diagnosis and treatment are critical to the patient's prognosis.

Indexed as

NeurosyphilisAgedAnti-Bacterial AgentsDisease ProgressionFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingTreatment OutcomeTreponema pallidumAnti-Bacterial Agentsantisyphilis therapycase reportimmunosuppressionneurosyphilispenicillin Greactivationspinal surgeryTreponema pallidum

Identifiers

PMID41640814
PMCPMC12864448

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.