Treatment for Early Syphilis in HIV-Infected Individuals — Once Is Enough

Treatment response was good whether patients received one or multiple intramuscular injections of penicillin.

Syphilis in HIV-infected individuals prompts concerns about increased risk for neurosyphilis and decreased response to treatment. Now, using data from the U.S. Military Natural History Study, researchers have examined the efficacy of a single dose of penicillin for treating early syphilis in study participants.

Between 1986 and 2013, 619 cases met the criteria for early syphilis (i.e., seroconversion during the preceding 365 days using a nontreponemal test, confirmed with a treponemal test). The final analysis involved 478 cases of early syphilis in 350 participants (99% male, 63% African-American, 69% on antiretroviral therapy; median CD4 count, 494 cells/mm³) with information available on treatment used and pre- and posttreatment syphilis …

Reviewing Author

Keith Henry, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardViiV Advisory Board

Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Keith Henry, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardViiV Advisory Board

Editorial BoardsJAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

Treatment for Early Syphilis in HIV-Infected Individuals — Once Is Enough

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Reviewing Author