Incidence and presentation of early syphilis diagnosed in HIV-positive gay men attending a central London outpatients' department

We examined the incidence, presentation and sexual behaviour of gay men diagnosed with early syphilis at the Royal Free Hospital HIV department in 2002. A total of 1086 gay men attended and 31 were diagnosed with early syphilis (2.9/100 person years). Twenty-six (84%) of the men were symptomatic and 15 (48%) had documented negative serology within the previous six months. All of the men reported anal intercourse with a new partner in the previous three months. The results support offering regular serological screening to sexually active gay men attending our HIV outpatients' department.