Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Syphilis”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,171 records · Page 65Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Congenital syphilis. Diagnosis in places with limited facilities.

The cases of 4 newborns with congenital syphilis (CS) seen in a rural hospital in Tanzania are reported. Clinical signs may be caused by other diseases than CS and are not conclusive. Therefore, uniformity in diagnostic criteria based on clinical symptoms and serology is essential for comparative clinical and epidemiological studies in places with limited facilities. The surveillance case definition for congenital syphilis introduced by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in 1988 and revised in 1989 [1] offers the opportunity to report congenital syphilis not only in places with sophisticated equipment but also in places with limited facilities.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed2004

Aspects of oral syphilis.

The incidence of sexually transmitted diseases recently increased in the United States and Europe due to migration, increase in high-risk behavior, and abandonment of safer sex practices at the advent of anti-retroviral combination therapy for human immunodeficiency virus infection. This article presents four cases of primary oral anti perioral syphilis with differential diagnoses. It is important to bear this reappearing infection in mind to avoid latent infection. Resembling common oral infections, the primary affect disappears spontaneously, and the infection enters the second stage. The patient remains infected, may further spread the disease, and risks severe organ damage from long-standing infection. The antibiotic cure is inexpensive and safe and spares the patient mucous patches and gumma residuals, apart from severe general sequelae such as thoracic aorta aneurysm and neurosyphilis. However, compliance problems jeopardize clinical and serologic follow-up. The growing syphilis incidence prompts the commemoration of Dr Moriz Kaposi and his dispositive 1891 book Pathology and Therapy of the Syphilis. Moriz Kaposi is acknowledged as one of the heads of the Vienna School of Dermatology, a superb clinician, and renowned teacher.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Congenital syphilis. Serologic diagnosis in the young infant.

The diagnosis of congenital syphilis in the newborn or young infant must incorporate epidemiologic, clinical, and serologic evidence of infection. Anti-treponemal IgM assays such as the 19S-IgM-FTA-ABS, which can be performed at the CDC at the request of state health departments, and the IgM ELISA being developed by Ortho Diagnostics represent the most available of the new assays. Discrimination of CNS involvement by T. pallidum by new methods continues to be difficult in the absence of a "gold standard" for comparison; thus, the current recommendation is to treat all infected infants with a regimen adequate to eradicate neurosyphilis. Although tremendous progress has been made in recent years in new serologic techniques applicable to congenital syphilis, none have proved reliable enough yet to be widely used by physicians evaluating infants at risk. In conclusion, there is still no single serologic assay that will reliably diagnose congenital syphilis in the young infant and the weight of therapeutic decisions still rests on the physician's ability to synthesize epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

[Syphilis maligna in an HIV-negative patient].

A 21-year-old patient with a history of drug addiction presented with generalized, centrally-ulcerated papules and haemorrhagic crusts. Initially, differential diagnostic considerations included pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta and syphilis. Biopsy and serological testing confirmed the latter diagnosis. Syphilis maligna is a rare form of secondary syphilis; symptoms include a papulonecrotic exanthem and general malaise with fevers and wasting. In the past the disease was described in connection with tuberculosis; today it is most often seen in association with HIV.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Screening for syphilis and neurosyphilis in acute psychiatric admissions.

The value of blood screening for syphilis and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) screening for neurosyphilis in acute psychiatric admissions is assessed. Of 1,296 patients, 248 (19%) had evidence of previous or current syphilis as shown by a positive Treponema pallidum haemagglutination test, and 68 (5.2%) had potentially treatable syphilis as shown by a positive Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) titre. CSF examination was performed on 169 patients with a positive blood test. Seventeen (i.e. 1.3% of all patients included in the study) met our criteria for neurosyphilis. The best predictor for neurosyphilis was the presence of a reactive serum VDRL. However, it is recommended that all patients with a positive blood test and symptoms that could possibly be ascribed to neurosyphilis undergo CSF examination.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[The centenary of Wassermann reaction--the future of serological diagnosis of syphilis, up-to-date studies].

One hundred years after the discovery of the infectious agent of syphilis and implementation of the first serological test for the diagnosis of syphilis, important progress in the evaluation of host immune response against Treponema (T.) pallidum infection has been made. The paper focuses on the new modifications of non-treponemal tests (the use of synthetic cardiolipin and lecithin in Venereal Disease Research Laboratory--VDRL test and the application of the VDRL antigen to immunoenzymatic assays) as well as of treponemal tests. Original treponemal antigens are replaced by recombinant and synthetic antigens (TpN44,5- TmpA, TpN15, TpN17 and TpN47) and by antigens obtained after sequencing of the complete T. pallidum genome (Tp0453, Tp0257 and Tp92) in modifications of immunoenzymatic assays. The new diagnostic strategy, namely the examination of the number of cells producing T. pallidum specific antibodies is also presented. Despite the progress achieved in studies on humoral response in syphilis during last years, the practical application of new tests in diagnosis of the infection requires further studies.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed2006

Prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus, and syphilis among street children residing in southern Tehran, Iran.

Street children are among vulnerable people in the world. They are one of the main groups in the society who affect the pattern of health. To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), and syphilis among street children residing in southern Tehran, Iran. In a cross-sectional study, we selected 102 children aged below 15 years from southern Tehran. The selected children had an interview and were examined. From each child a blood sample was taken and tested for anti-HIV (ELISA), anti-HCV (ELISA), HBsAg (ELISA), anti-HBs, anti-HBc (radioimmunoassay [RIA]), rapid plasma reagin (RPR), and fluorescent treponema antibody absorption (FTA-ABS). We studied 39 (38%) boys and 63 (62%) girls, including 79 (77%) Afghan and 16 (16%) Iranian children. The nationality of 8 children could not be identified. The children were negative for syphilis, HIV, and HCV. Nevertheless, 3 of them were positive for HBsAg and 15 were HBsAb positive (>10 MIU/mL). The majority of street children are immigrants. Although these children did not have syphilis, HIV, and HCV, they are at risk of HBV.

Afghanistan↗
PubMed2006

[Pathologic diagnosis of early syphilis in nasal cavity and oropharynx].

OBJECTIVE: To study the pathologic changes in nasal and oropharyngeal mucosa caused by treponema pallidum (TP) infection. METHODS: Twenty-five cases of nasal and oropharyngeal syphilis were retrieved from the archival files of Department of Pathology of Beijing Tong Ren Hospital collected during the period from June 1996 to September 2005. The hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were reviewed. Histochemical study using modified Warthin-Starry stain and immunohistochemical study using polyclonal antibody for TP were carried out. The diagnosis of early syphilis was confirmed by rapid plasma regain (RPR) and TP hemagglutination (TPHA) tests. RESULTS: Among the 25 cases studied, 20 showed neutrophil infiltration, microabscess formation and plasma cell infiltration in the lamina propria. Endothelial swelling of small blood vessels and syphilitic vasculitis was also seen. Tonsillar ulcers associated with abundant plasma cells, lymphocytes and histiocytes were noted in 14 cases. One of which demonstrated florid reactive lymphoid proliferation, with transforming lymphoid cells of various stages identified. Pseudoneoplastic squamous cell proliferation was seen in one case. Spirochetes were detected by modified Warthin-Starry stain in mucosal microabscesses and squamous epithelium in 20 cases, around small blood vessels in 5 cases, and on the surface of tonsillar ulcers in 14 cases. Abundant TP were also found in smears of exudates in 6 cases. TP antigen was detected in 4 cases by immunohistochemical staining. All the 25 cases studied were RPR (1:8 to 128) and TPHA-positive. CONCLUSIONS: Early syphilis involving nasal cavity and oropharynx has distinctive pathologic features. Detailed histologic examination, together with modified Warthin-Starry stain for demonstration of spirochetes, is important to obtain a correct diagnosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Serological investigation of HIV infections, HBsAg and syphilis in prostitutes in Elaziğ].

It is well known that the infections of AIDS, serum hepatitis and syphilis were transmitted by sexual contact. The sera of 66 prostitutes were investigated for determination of anti-HIV by ELISA, HBsAg by IHA and antibodies to syphilis by TPH methods in area of Elaziğ. The anti-HIV antibodies could not be detected in prostitutes, but HBsAg was positive in 13 (19.7%) and antibodies to syphilis was positive in 6 (9.1%) of total.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

[The dynamics of Treponema-specific blood immunoglobulins in early forms of syphilis].

The study has involved 73 patients with syphilis, 31 female and 42 male ones, aged 18-42. Four of these suffered from primary seronegative, 14 from primary seropositive, 21 from secondary fresh, 22 from secondary recurrent, and 12 from early latent seropositive syphilis. Peripheral blood sera were under study. Treponema-specific antibodies of the IgM and IgG classes were titered by enzyme immunoassay. The detected changes in Treponema-specific immunoglobulinemia are in good correlation with clinical staged pattern of syphilis and antiinfectious immunity status.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Prevalence of reactive serological tests for syphilis in the Jamaican population.

Serological tests for syphilis (STS) were performed on sera from 15,876 members of the general adult population, 3,039 pregnant women and 1,029 children, in order to assess the prevalence and value of reactive STS in Jamaicans; 2.7% of sera from the general adult population, 4.7% from pregnant women and 2.2% from children were reactive in the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test. Reactive Fluorescent Treponemal Absorption (FTA-ABS) tests occurred in significantly higher frequency in pregnant women (4%) than in the general population (2.2%; p less than 0.001). The prevalence of reactive STS in children did not differ significantly from that of the general adult population. The predictive value of a reactive VDRL test in pregnant women (85%) was higher than that of the general population (79%). These results suggest that adequate screening with the inexpensive VDRL test would enable the early detection and treatment of syphilis, and could prevent increasing incidence of congenital syphilis in Jamaica.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[The immune status of homosexuals ill with different forms of syphilis].

Status of the cell-mediated, humoral immunity, and nonspecific defense factors were examined before and after specific therapy in 40 homosexuals suffering from secondary relapsing and latent early syphilis. The findings evidence that changes in the cell-mediated immunity of homosexual syphilitics essentially differ from those in heterosexuals with syphilis: decreased count of T-helpers and elevated one of T-suppressors evidence impaired ratio of T-lymphocyte subpopulations and immunoregulatory cell imbalance. A significantly increased level of C4 complement component was observed, evidencing a deficiency of the complement system. These data call for the development of a scheme of immunocorrective therapy for homosexuals suffering from syphilis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Is antenatal screening for syphilis worth while?

To ascertain the effectiveness of an antenatal screening programme for syphilis, a review of the seven-year period from 1981 to 1987, was made at The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne. In total, 35,103 patients were screened, with a biological false-positive rate of 0.3%. Serological evidence of treponemal infection occurred in 0.4% of patients, with 66% of this group being newly recognized cases. Eight (0.02%) cases were consistent serologically with early treponemal infection, although clinically all patients were asymptomatic at the time of detection. The outcome in infants was satisfactory in all cases where appropriate antibiotic therapy was instituted antenatally. In one case, which presented late at 32-weeks' gestation for the first antenatal visit, the result was a fetal death in utero. The post-mortem findings were compatible with a diagnosis of congenital syphilis. At an incidence of 0.02% for active maternal syphilis, and an over-all treponemal infection rate of 0.4%, the cost-effectiveness of antenatal screening is well-justified.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1989

[Characteristics of the course of latent forms of syphilis].

Seven patients with latent syphilis are described, in whom the routine serologic tests (RST) were negative during the first examination and over the course of therapy, and the specific tests (T. pallidum immobilization and immunofluorescence) were repeatedly positive before therapy. Early latent seropositive recurrent forms of syphilis were detected in the majority of these patients' sexual partners. The patients were not administered antisyphilis therapy before. The diagnosis of latent seronegative early syphilis negative in the RST is epidemiologically significant, for it helps timely carry out the necessary treatment and prophylaxis measures to prevent the disease dissemination.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Ocular manifestations of syphilis.

Since the mid-1970s, the number of new cases of infectious syphilis has begun to increase. Ocular manifestations of secondary and late syphilis occur. The optometric role in the management of infectious syphilis is one of detection, consultation with internists and neurologists for systemic treatment, topical treatment of anterior uveitis, and monitoring for recurrence of disease. This report describes an elderly patient presenting with recurrent, bilateral iritis and optic atrophy as initial clinical manifestations of syphilitic infection.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Effectiveness of benzathine penicillin regimen in the treatment of syphilis in pregnancy.

The intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin G 2.4 million units weekly for 3 consecutive weeks to syphilitic pregnant women was again confirmed to be clinically effective for prevention of their neonates from congenital syphilis and well accepted as treatment for syphilis in pregnancy. It was administered to 184 cases, or 93.5 per cent, of 197 syphilitic gravidas. It was found that pregnancy outcomes in terms of abortion, stillbirth, prematurity, full term delivery, neonatal birth weight, macroscopic examination of the placenta and general physical examination of the neonate were clinically useful as a parameter to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy for the infant. Clinical symptoms and signs in the mother, serological tests for syphilis in the gravida and cord blood of the newborn, and placental weight were not useful in the evaluation of adequacy of treatment of our study group.

Female↗
PubMed1989

Congenital syphilis: the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center experience, 1986-1988.

Between January 1, 1986 and July 1, 1988, 56 cases of congenital syphilis were identified at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. The overall rate was 18.4 cases per 10,000 births, with a threefold increase found from 1986 to 1988. A case-control study using matched pairs was done to identify differences in maternal demographics and pregnancy outcome. Congenital syphilis case mothers were predominantly black American women who lacked prenatal care (67%) and who were substance abusers (71%) significantly more often than their matched controls (P less than .005). Three cases of seroconversion in pregnancy were identified. Failure to screen or inappropriate treatment occurred in four patients. Seven women were treated during pregnancy: Five received benzathine penicillin G for 3 consecutive weeks and two received erythromycin. All treated patients presented for initial care in the late second or third trimester. Thirty-seven infants (66%) were live-born and 19 (34%) were stillborn. Preterm labor and premature rupture of the membranes were significantly more common in infected pregnancies than in controls (P less than .005). Live-born case infants had significantly lower birth weights than controls (P less than .005), with 21% of case infants growth-retarded. Seven neonatal deaths and one infant death occurred. The resultant perinatal mortality rate from congenital syphilis in this series was 464 pe 1000.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Serological response to syphilis treatment. A new analysis of old data.

One important aspect of the posttreatment evaluation of patients with early syphilis is assessment of serological test results. Using information previously collected from 818 patients in the Early Syphilis Study, we evaluated the seroresponse of people treated for primary or secondary syphilis. We generated curves describing the VDRL titer declines with time. The VDRL titer declined approximately fourfold at three months and eightfold at six months. These observations will allow clinicians to identify treatment failures or reinfections at the earliest possible time during their follow-up.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗