~18 spots leftby Apr 2026

Lumbar Puncture and Syphilis Outcome

CM
Overseen byChristina M Marra, MD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Waitlist Available
Sponsor: University of Washington
No Placebo Group
Approved in 1 Jurisdiction

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes syphilis, invades the central nervous system in about 40% of patients with syphilis. This happens early after infection. Patients with neuroinvasion are at risk of developing serious neurological complications, including vision or hearing loss, stroke and dementia. Because neuroinvasion can happen without symptoms, the only way to identify it is by performing a lumbar puncture (LP) to examine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).The overall hypothesis to be tested in this study is that a strategy of immediate LP, followed by therapy based on CSF evaluation, results in better serological and functional outcomes in patients with syphilis who are at high risk for neuroinvasion.

Research Team

CM

Christina M Marra, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Washington

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Males and females age 18 years or older
Current syphilis
Primary language is English or English is a second language but patient self-describes as fluent in English
See 2 more

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Lumbar puncture (Procedure)
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: LPExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants undergo lumbar puncture for CSF evaluation
Group II: No LPActive Control1 Intervention
Participants do not undergo lumbar puncture and CSF is not examined.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Washington

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,858
Recruited
2,023,000+

Dr. Timothy H. Dellit

University of Washington

Chief Executive Officer since 2023

MD from University of Washington

Dr. Anneliese Schleyer

University of Washington

Chief Medical Officer since 2023

MD, MHA

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Collaborator

Trials
1,403
Recruited
655,000+

Jordan Gladman

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Chief Medical Officer

MD from Harvard Medical School

Walter J. Koroshetz profile image

Walter J. Koroshetz

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Chief Executive Officer since 2007

MD from the University of Chicago