CXCL13, CXCL10 and CXCL8 as indicators of ocular and neurological involvement in patients with ocular syphilis: An observational descriptive study
Date
2022
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Aim
To investigate the role of the chemokines CXCL13, CXCL10 and CXCL8 in the diagnosis of
ocularā and neurosyphilis by examining the serum, aqueous humour (AH) and cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) of patients with ocular syphilis.
Methods
An observational descriptive study was performed prospectively at Tygerberg Academic
Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa from 1 February 2018 till 31 January 2021 which enrolled
23 participants. Upon diagnosis of ocular syphilis, the HIV status of each patient was
determined, and 3 samples (AH, serum and CSF) were collected to measure the levels of
CXCL13, CXCL10 and CXCL8 in each.
Results
The mean concentrations of all 3 biomarkers were higher in the AH and CSF than in the
serum. The mean concentrations of the 3 measured biomarkers were markedly different
when comparing both AH and CSF levels to serum levels. The level of CXCL13 measured in the
AH correlated well with the concentrations found in the CSF of patients with neurosyphilis.
In patients with neurosyphilis, mean AH levels of CXCL13 and CXCL10 were markedly higher
than in serum while mean CSF levels of CXCL10 were also markedly higher than in serum.
Also, the AH/serum ratio of CXCL13 and CXCL10, as well as the CSF/serum ratio of CXCL10,
was much higher in patients with neurosyphilis than without.
In patients with HIV infection, mean AH CXCL13 levels were much higher than in patients
without HIV infection.
Conclusion
The levels of CXCL13, CXCL10 and CXCL8 in the AH of patients with neurosyphilis are similar to
previously reported levels in the CSF of patients with neurosyphilis and can potentially be an
adjunct in the diagnosis of ocular syphilis. Patients with ocular syphilis who tested negative
for neurosyphilis with conventional CSF testing showed features of neurosyphilis when
analysing the CSF chemokines.
Description
Keywords
ocular, Surgical Sciences: Ophthalmology