EARLY SYPHILIS AND HIV-INFECTION - A REPO RT OF 13 CASES

We prospectively studied the clinical and biological features and the results of therapy in 13 HIV-infected patients seen in our department from December 1990 to November 1992 for early syphilis. They were 12 m ale homosexuals and one female IV drug abuser, with a median age of 33 years (range : 24-43). The clinical presentation was classical, with chancre, roseola and syphilids. The diagnosis was based on darkfield e xamination in 3 cases, and serology in all 13 cases. The median VDRL t iter was 128 (range : 16-512) in 12 patients. One patient had a false- negative VDRL test due to a prozone phenomenon. Ten patients underwent lumbar puncture, yielding normal CSF in 9. One patient had asymptomat ic neurosyphilis and was cured with intravenous aqueous penicillin. Al l the patients evaluable at one and two years were cured by 2 to 3 int ramuscular injections of benzathine-penicillin, oral doxycycline or er ythromycin.