Predictors of Serological Cure and Serofast State After Treatment in HIV-Negative Persons With Early Syphilis
12/2011
Journal Article
Authors:
Seña, A.C.;
Wolff, M.;
Martin, D.H.;
Behets, F.;
Van Damme, K.;
Leone, P.A.;
Langley, C.;
McNeil, L.;
Hook, E.W.
Secondary:
Clin Infect Dis
Volume:
11
Pagination:
1092-1099
URL:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21998287
Keywords:
Adolescent; Adult; Drug Monitoring; Female; Humans; Madagascar; Male; Middle Aged; prognosis; Prospective Studies; Reagins/blood; Serologic Tests; Syphilis/drug therapy; Treatment Outcome; United States; Young Adult
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Syphilis management requires serological monitoring after therapy. We compared factors associated with serological response after treatment of early (ie, primary, secondary, or early latent) syphilis. METHODS: We performed secondary analyses of data from a prospective, randomized syphilis trial conducted in the United States and Madagascar. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative participants aged ≥ 18 years with early syphilis were enrolled from 2000-2009. Serological testing was performed at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after treatment. At 6 months, serological cure was defined as a negative rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test or a ≥4-fold decreased titer, and serofast status was defined as a ≤ 2-fold decreased titer or persistent titers that did not meet criteria for treatment failure. RESULTS: Data were available from 465 participants, of whom 369 (79%) achieved serological cure and 96 (21%) were serofast. In bivariate analysis, serological cure was associated with younger age, fewer sex partners, higher baseline RPR titers, and earlier syphilis stage (P ≤ .008). There was a less significant association with Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction after treatment (P = .08). Multivariate analysis revealed interactions between log-transformed baseline titer with syphilis stage, in which the likelihood of cure was associated with increased titers among participants with primary syphilis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] for 1 unit change in log(2) titer, 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25-2.70), secondary syphilis (AOR, 3.15; 95% CI, 2.14-4.65), and early latent syphilis (AOR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.44-2.40). CONCLUSIONS: Serological cure at 6 months after early syphilis treatment is associated with age, number of sex partners, Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, and an interaction between syphilis stage and baseline RPR titer.
