Evaluation of syphilis co-infection and monitoring of rapid plasma reagin (RRP) titer according to syphilis-stage in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients

Authors : Neslihan ARICI, Handan ANKARALI, Nilgün KANSAK, Rıza ADALETİ, Sebahat AKSARAY

Pages : 404-410

Doi:10.21673/anadoluklin.1345710

View : 79 | Download : 41

Publication Date : 2023-09-28

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: Syphilis co-infection in HIV-infected patients is associated by a delayed serological response. The aim of this study is to obtain current data on the frequency of HIV/syphilis co-infection, the monitoring of rapid plasma reagin insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(RPR); titer after treatment, and factors affecting the serologic response. Methods: Serological tests for syphilis of HIV patients followed between January 2015 and March 2023 were evaluated retrospectively. Demografic data insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(age, sex);, level of HIV RNA, RPR, Treponema pallidum haemagglutination test insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(TPHA);, and syphilis stage were obtained from hospital electronic database. Serological response was defined according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(CDC); criteria. Results: Syphilis co-infection was detected in 36.2% of the patients, all of them were male. Distribution of syphilis stage was primary 2.9%, secondary 9.7%, latent 80.6%, and neurosyphilis 6.8%, respectively. All patients with primary, secondary, and neurosyphilis had ≥4-fold decrease in RPR titer within 12 months after treatment, while two patients with latent syphilis didn’t have a decrease in titer within 12-24 months. Overall serologic response was 95.8%. Comparing the time to a 4-fold decrease in the RPR titer in terms of syphilis stage, there was no statistically significant difference. Patients with initial RPR titer >1: 32 achieved faster serologic response than those with initial RPR titer ≤1: 32. Conclusion: HIV/syphilis coinfection rate was notably high. It is promising that most patients had a serologic response within the time-frame defined by the CDC. It should be considered that treatment response may take longer in patients with an initial RPR titer ≤32. Further prospective studies are needed to understand the factors associated with serologic response in HIV/syphilis co-infected patients.
Keywords : HIV, sifiliz, koenfeksiyon, RPR, serolojik yanıt

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