Original articles
STUDY OF SEROLOGY CHANGE IN IMMUNOCOMPETENT PATIENTS WITH ADEQUATELY TREATED SYPHILIS

Summary

While syphilis etiology and pathogenesis are well
described, and despite the existence of accurate and
accessible serologic tests and effective treatment options, its
incidence is continuously on the rise, representing a major
public health issue, particularly in medical resourcesstrapped
countries. The aim of this study is to conduct a
thorough assessment of the change of syphilis serology
results in a significant number of syphilis patients
receiving adequate treatment under specialized supervision.
The subjects included in the study had different
stages of syphilis progression.
The identified data show that VDRL (veneral disease
research laboratory) test results with non-specific antigens
become negative more often after adequate treatment used
in stage I, the non-mandatory latent period and stage II
syphilis, respectively. In more advanced stages, such as
mandatory latent period and stage III, respectively, VDRL
titres slowly decrease, but do not become negative after
adequate treatment over a period of several years. Other
relevant markers, using specific treponemal antigens such
as TPHA (Treponema pallidum haemagglutination test)
and IgM ELISA test system have a clearly predictable
course. TPHA maintained positivity over the entire followup
interval, possibly for the rest of the patient’s life, while
IgM ELISA became consistently negative one year after
treatment at the latest.