Is the course of syphilis altered in HIV-infected individuals? Although the course of syphilis in most HIV-infected patients is not different from that in a normal host, it may differ in several ways. - Altered clinical manifestations of syphilis, including the usual painless chancre becoming painful secondary to bacterial infection. Lues maligna, a rare manifestation of secondary syphilis, can occur and consists of pleomorphic skin lesions with pustules, nodules, and ulcers with necrotizing vasculitis.
- Altered serologic tests for syphilis, with limited or absent antibody tests for syphilis, including repeatedly negative reagin and treponemal antibody tests. Seronegative secondary syphilis, as well as exaggerated antibody responses, has been reported. Loss of treponemal antibody positivity has also been noted.
- There may be concurrent coinfection with another sexually transmitted disease.
- There may be a decreased latency period with accelerated development of tertiary syphilis within months to years.
- There may be a lack of response to antibiotic therapy with relapses.
Gregory N, Sanchez M, Buchness MR: The spectrum of syphilis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection, J Am Acad Dermatol 22:1061–1067, 1990. |