VDRL titres in early syphilis before and after treatment.

OBJECTIVE--To observe the pretreatment VDRL titres in different stages of early syphilis and evaluate the changes in VDRL titre following treatment using different treatment schedules. DESIGN--Retrospective study was carried out by analysing the records of cases of early syphilis treated between 1976 to 1981. SETTING--Armed Forces personnel treated at different service hospitals in India. SUBJECTS--Of 3183 cases of early syphilis treated with different regimens during this period, 1532 were fully followed-up for a period of 30 months. Records of these 1532 cases were analysed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Assessment of VDRL titres before treatment and during post treatment surveillance period of 30 months. Attainment of non-reactivity of VDRL test in various stages of early syphilis using different treatment schedules was evaluated. RESULTS--Relatively higher titres were observed in secondary syphilis. Following treatment it was observed that VDRL test was still reactive at the end of 6 months in 16.47% of primary, 27.56% of secondary and 18.95% of early latent cases; at the end of 12 months in 11.38% of primary, 17.25% of secondary and 15.79% of early latent cases while at 30 months reactivity was still observed in 6.60% of primary, 8.39% of secondary and 11.58% of early latent cases. CSF was examined in 1173 cases at 6 months, of which one case revealed VDRL reactivity while two cases showed reactivity amongst 1188 CSF examined at 30 months. There has been no significant difference with broad spectrum antibiotics and 2.4 MU benzathine penicillin. Results were better with 4.8 MU benzathine penicillin and procaine penicillin. CONCLUSION--VDRL test appears to be a reliable test for the follow-up of treated patients in early syphilis. Early treatment prevents development of seropositivity in seronegative syphilis while majority of seropositive cases attain seronegativity by 6 months. Higher doses of benzathine penicillin and procaine penicillin accelerate the speed of seroconversion.     

Primary and secondary syphilis, 20 years'' experience. 3: Diagnosis, treatment, and follow up.

The methods of diagnosis (dark ground microscopy and serology), treatment, and follow up of 946 patients with primary and 854 with secondary syphilis who presented to a London STD clinic between 1965 and 1984 were reviewed retrospectively. On dark ground microscopy spirochaetes typical of Treponema pallidum were seen in 673 (78%) of 884 patients with primary syphilitic chancres. Of the patients with primary syphilis, 137 (14.5%) had negative serology results at presentation. Eight (0.9%) of the patients with secondary syphilis had negative results at presentation, but seven of these gave positive results one month later. Procaine penicillin was the treatment used most, and erythromycin the commonest alternative. The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction occurred more often after treatment with penicillin than with erythromycin or tetracycline (p less than 0.005). In most patients the Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory (VDRL) test showed a consistent fall in titre after treatment; a small proportion, however, continued to give positive results (some at a high titre) with no other evidence of reinfection or treatment failure.     

Infiltrate of syphilitic lesions before and after treatment.

An immunohistological study of skin biopsy specimens from patients with early syphilis was undertaken before and after treatment (one day after intramuscular administration of 2.4 MIU benzathine penicillin and eight days later, after a total administration of 3.6 MIU. In chancres from seronegative patients treatment with 3.6 MIU usually resulted in fewer immunocompetent cells in the infiltrate. In lesions of secondary syphilis treatment with 2.4 MIU benzathine penicillin produced a significant decrease in immunocompetent cells. After treatment with 3.6 MIU there was no further decrease. It was worth noticing that even eight to nine days after the initial pretreatment biopsy, when 3.6 MIU had been administered, the overall lymphohistiocytic infiltrate was not substantially diminished. Significantly more suppressor (T8+) cells were found in lesions of primary syphilis than of secondary syphilis, and they showed remarkable exocytosis. Activated local T8+ cells may release immunosuppressive lymphokines.     

Solitary oral condylomata lata in a patient with secondary syphilis

A case report of a patient with oral condylomata lata is presented. Physical examination showed that the lesions were the only symptom of secondary syphilis. The diagnosis was based on dark-field microscopy of specimens from the lesions and serologic tests for syphilis. The condylomata lata responded well to treatment of the syphilis with procaine penicillin G.     

Short-time, high-dosage penicillin infusion therapy of syphilis: an alternative to recommended regimens?

The optimal dosage and duration of penicillin treatment for the various stages of syphilis are not known. We present data on 20 patients with syphilis (primary, secondary or latent) treated with high-dose, short-time penicillin infusion therapy. Patients were given 10 MIU of penicillin G intravenously every 6 h up to a total dose of 90 MIU within 48 h. No adverse reactions were registered but 9 patients showed a Herxheimer reaction. Four patients were lost to follow-up and the remaining 16 were serologically and clinically followed for mean 18.5 months (range 3-36). During this period, the Wassermann reaction turned negative for 12 patients and was reduced more than fourfold for the rest, with one exception. None of the patients showed clinical signs of active syphilis following treatment. The cerebrospinal fluid penicillin concentration was measured in one patient during treatment and found to be much higher than the minimally treponemacidal concentration generally recommended. The treatment modality is reviewed and discussed and it may provide an alternative to conventional treatment regimens of early syphilis.     

Treatment of primary and secondary syphilis: serologic response

Eighty-eight patients with their first attack of primary syphilis and 101 patients with secondary syphilis were treated with penicillin G benzathine, 2.4 million units intramuscularly each week for 2 consecutive weeks, for a total of 4.8 million units. The serum of all patients with primary syphilis became negative within 1 year and of those in the secondary stage, within 2 years. This report confirms three previously published articles on the serologic response to treatment in a grand total of 588 patients with primary syphilis and 623 patients in the secondary stage.     

阿奇霉素治疗早期梅毒及其耐药的进展

青霉素是目前治疗梅毒的最佳方法，但在应用中仍存在着一定的局限性。阿奇霉素治疗早期梅毒简便可行、依从性好，且多项研究已证实其疗效，可作为青霉素过敏患者的替代治疗方案。同时阿奇霉素在梅毒预防控制的现场实施和用于治疗其他性病病原体合并感染有一定的优越性。近年来，出现基因突变引起的耐阿奇霉素的梅毒螺旋体，导致阿奇霉素治疗早期梅毒失败，并在一定的网络中传播，影响它在梅毒治疗中的进一步应用。     

Treatment failure with penicillin in early syphilis.

A patient with primary syphilis had a recurrence of his penile chancre after generally acceptable penicillin treatment. Retreatment with a similar but extended penicillin regimen was successful. This is the first report of such a treatment failure.     

Treatment failure with penicillin in early syphilis.

A patient with primary syphilis had a recurrence of his penile chancre after generally acceptable penicillin treatment. Retreatment with a similar but extended penicillin regimen was successful. This is the first report of such a treatment failure.     

Nodular secondary syphilis in an immunocompetent woman: Case report and literature review

A 46-year-old woman presented with slightly itching, painless erythematous nodules on the face, neck, and genital area. Initial differential diagnoses included cutaneous lymphoma. We performed punch biopsy on her neck. In histopathology, interface dermatitis with some nodular infiltration of numerous neutrophils and plasma cells was observed, therefore, serologic tests for syphilis were performed. Owing to positive serologic test results and dramatically improved skin lesions after treatment with benzathine penicillin, nodular secondary syphilis was diagnosed. Nodular skin lesions in secondary syphilis are uncommon and often misleading. Our case suggests secondary syphilis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of nodular lesions.     

Treatment monitoring in syphilis using the autoanalyser.

Treatment monitoring in syphilis using the automated Reiter protein complement fixation test and the automated reagin test was investigated over a two-year period. Clearly defined response patterns were demonstrated in primary and secondary syphilis and, to a lesser extent, in latent syphilis, thus facilitating the assessment of treatment and the identification of treatment failures and reinfection. No obvious treatment failures were detected in those patients receiving penicillin, but two failures were noted in a group of patients with secondary syphilis treated with doxycyline. The combination of two automated tests overcame some of the disadvantages inherent in the use of a single reagin test.     

Treatment monitoring in syphilis using the autoanalyser.

Treatment monitoring in syphilis using the automated Reiter protein complement fixation test and the automated reagin test was investigated over a two-year period. Clearly defined response patterns were demonstrated in primary and secondary syphilis and, to a lesser extent, in latent syphilis, thus facilitating the assessment of treatment and the identification of treatment failures and reinfection. No obvious treatment failures were detected in those patients receiving penicillin, but two failures were noted in a group of patients with secondary syphilis treated with doxycyline. The combination of two automated tests overcame some of the disadvantages inherent in the use of a single reagin test.     

Survival of treponemes after treatment: comments, clinical conclusions, and recommendations.

Treponemes may persist after treatment that has been accepted as effective; the reasons for this are discussed. Nevertheless, the epidemic of syphilis after the second world war was not followed by an epidemic of late syphilis, and the results of treatment with penicillin are excellent. Neurological signs may progress in some treated patients, and the standard doses of soluble penicillin and any dose of benzathine penicillin (even with added probenecid by mouth) cannot be relied on to achieve treponemicidal concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). There are no large scale studies of CSF findings after treatment of early syphilis with benzathine penicillin. Standard dosage, such as procaine penicillin G 600 000 international units (IU) by intramuscular injection for 10 days, is the treatment of choice for the patient suffering from uncomplicated early syphilis; this should be preferred to benzathine penicillin, which should only be used when standard treatment as above cannot be given. Treponemicidal concentrations of penicillin should be achieved in the CSF of patients suffering from neurosyphilis by schedules of probenecid by mouth and procaine penicillin by single daily intramuscular injections; treatment should last for 17 to 21 days. Benzathine penicillin should not be used for the treatment of patients suffering from neurosyphilis or from the iritis of late syphilis including that accompanying interstitial keratitis. Treatment for interstitial keratitis should initially be as for neurosyphilis, but in recurrent cases it may have to be prolonged to eradicate Treponema pallidum that is dividing slowly. Doxycycline 200 mg by mouth daily for 21 days provides a supervisable outpatient schedule for patients allergic to penicillin. Cephaloridine (and probably cefuroxime and the new cephalosporins) may be useful for patients who are allergic to penicillin but have not developed anaphylactic allergy. If erythromycin is used for treating syphilis in pregnant women who are allergic to penicillin, then the newborn babies should be treated with penicillin.     

Failure of recommended maternal therapy to prevent congenital syphilis

A pregnant women with secondary syphilis received appropriate therapy with penicillin in the last trimester of pregnancy. At delivery, her titre had fallen fourfold, and the baby had a non-reactive cord blood titre at birth. However, the treatment failed to prevent infection in the infant, and the baby had developed signs of congenital syphilis at 10 weeks of age. The definition of "adequate therapy" of pregnant women is unclear, and recent guidelines are contradictory. Therefore, literature that pertains to penicillin therapy in pregnancy is reviewed, and new guidelines for therapy proposed.     

A randomized,comparative pilot study of azithromycin versus benzathine penicillin G for treatment of early syphilis

BACKGROUND: Penicillin is the only medication currently recommended for treatment of early syphilis in non-penicillin-allergic patients. Preliminary data suggest that azithromycin may be effective for syphilis therapy. STUDY DESIGN: This was a randomized, comparative pilot study of intramuscular injections of benzathine penicillin G and two oral azithromycin regimens for treatment of syphilis. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients with early syphilis to treatment with either intramuscular injections of 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin G or azithromycin administered orally, either as a single 2.0-g dose or as two 2.0-g doses given 1 week apart. Serological response to therapy was evaluated at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months following therapy. Participants whose rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test became nonreactive or whose RPR titer decreased > or =2 dilutions were classified as responding to therapy. When serological tests did not show a response to therapy, the treatment was classified as a failure if RPR titers increased > or =2 dilutions. Nonresponders were those whose serologic titers remained within +/-1 dilution of the initial RPR titer. RESULTS: Cumulative response rates were as follows: benzathine penicillin G, 86% (12 of 14); azithromycin, 2.0-g single dose, 94% (16 of 17); and azithromycin, two 2.0-g doses given 1 week apart, 83% (24 of 29). Therapy failed for one patient treated with benzathine penicillin and one patient treated with the two-dose azithromycin regimen, whereas in six patients the clinical manifestations of infection resolved but there was no serological response. CONCLUSION: Oral therapy with 2.0 g of azithromycin as a single dose or as two doses 1 week apart is a promising alternative to therapy with benzathine penicillin G for syphilis and should be studied further.     

Malignant syphilis in an HIV-infected patient

Patients with HIV infection may develop common diseases with atypical clinical features. HIV infection may change the classic clinical course of syphilis and increase the incidence of a subtype of secondary syphilis named malignant syphilis. A homosexual patient with HIV infection consulted us about a one-month history of general malaise and widespread cutaneous ulcerative lesions, some with thick hemorrhagic crusts. Serology for syphilis was positive at high titers. Based on clinical, histological and serological findings, a diagnosis of malignant syphilis was made and the patient started treatment with penicillin G benzathine with progressive resolution of lesions. Malignant syphilis is a rare subtype of secondary syphilis that presents special clinical and histological features and has been associated with several processes characterized by variable degrees of immunosuppression. It is necessary to take into account this entity among the possible diagnoses in HIV-infected patients with cutaneous lesions.     

123例早期梅毒临床分析

目的观察早期梅毒的临床特点及疗效,为提高早期诊治水平提供科学依据。方法对123例早期梅毒患者的临床资料进行综合分析。结果本组病例中男性76例,女性47例。Ⅰ期梅毒53例,以外生殖器硬下疳为主;Ⅱ期梅毒67例,以掌跖暗红斑、扁平湿疣及玫瑰疹为主;潜伏梅毒3例,无皮疹。123例患者USR、Trust、TI'PA试验均为阳性(100%):使用苄星青霉素治疗梅毒血清试验阴转率达95.9%。结论早期梅毒临床表现多样性,易误诊。苄星青霉素是治疗早期梅毒的首选药物。     

Jarisch‐Herxheimer reaction among syphilis patients in China

Background/aim The Jarisch‐Herxheimer reaction (JHR) is an acute systemic event that can occur during the treatment of spirochetal infections, especially Treponema pallidum in patients with syphilis. JHR has clinical characteristics of an inflammatory reaction to antibiotic treatment and can occur with many medications as long as the antitreponemal concentrations are sufficiently high. Methods The incidence of and risk factors for JHR were investigated retrospectively among 1125 patients with syphilis. A total of 357 patients (32%) had secondary syphilis, 129 (12%) primary, 178 (16%) early latent, 174 (15%) late latent and 285 (25%) latent unknown duration; two patients had tertiary syphilis. Results Sixteen patients (1.4%) developed JHR. All JHRs occurred in patients with secondary and latent syphilis treated with penicillin. Conclusions JHR occurred much less frequently than in previously reported studies. It is important that dermatologists recognize the clinical characteristics of JHR so that it is not misinterpreted as an allergic reaction to treatment.     

Bullous secondary syphilis

An earlier standard syphilology textbook states that 'If vesicles are an essential part of an eruption in an adult, the lesions are not due to secondary syphilis'. However, vesicular and bullous eruptions do occur in congenital syphilis and rare reports of both vesicular and pustular eruptions in adults with secondary syphilis have been published. We describe a patient with a bullous-pemphigoid-like eruption and a positive VDRL in whom treatment with a course of procaine penicillin resulted in rapid permanent resolution of the eruption.     

幼儿肛周扁平湿疣误诊为尖锐湿疣1例

患儿,女,28个月。肛周扁平丘疹2月,无自觉症状,实验室检查:梅毒螺旋体凝集试验(TPPA)阳性,快速血浆反应素试验(RPR)1∶128,祖父祖母TPPA均为阳性,RPR均为1∶8,父母梅毒血清学检查结果均阴性,诊断为获得性二期梅毒(肛周扁平湿疣)。予苄星青霉素60万u/周治疗,3周后皮损基本消退,一月后患儿RPR降至1∶8。