Neurosyphilis in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

To the Editor.  —I read the article by Katz and Berger¹ in the August 1989 issue of the Archives with interest.The authors report that neurosyphilis was documented in 12 patients among 829 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (1.5%), and their conclusion is that AIDS and neurosyphilis occur together frequently what is contrary not only to the experience of McArthur but also to their early experience with AIDS. McArthur² observed one patient with neurosyphilis among 186 human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected individuals and concluded that "active neurosyphilis is not common among those at risk for HIV infection.''However, there is not any statistically significant difference between McArthur's and Katz and Berger's data (P =.21).The association between syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection is well recognized. According to Schultz et al,³ human immunodeficiency virus seropositive homosexual men are five times more likely to have