25 yrs old labourer 3 yrs back presented with penile ulcer which was not treated. Later he presented with neurological symptoms for which he got treated. Test to monitor response to treatment is-
## **Core Concept**
The patient's history suggests a case of untreated syphilis, which progressed from a primary stage (penile ulcer, likely a chancre) to a tertiary stage (neurological symptoms, possibly neurosyphilis). The test to monitor response to treatment in syphilis involves measuring the levels of specific antibodies.
## **Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer, **VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) test**, is a non-treponemal test used to monitor the response to treatment in syphilis patients. VDRL test titers typically decrease and may become negative after successful treatment, making it useful for assessing treatment efficacy.
## **Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
- **Option A: RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin)** is also a non-treponemal test like VDRL, but it is not the specific test mentioned here; however, it is similarly used for monitoring treatment response.
- **Option B: TPHA (Treponema Pallidum Hemagglutination Assay)** is a treponemal test that remains positive for life in most patients, even after successful treatment, making it unsuitable for monitoring treatment response.
- **Option C: FTA-ABS (Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption)** is another treponemal test that also remains positive for life and is not used to monitor treatment efficacy.
## **Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
A key point to remember is that non-treponemal tests (like VDRL and RPR) are used to monitor the response to treatment in syphilis, whereas treponemal tests (like TPHA and FTA-ABS) are used for diagnosis but not for follow-up.
## **Correct Answer:** . **VDRL**