MyMedR

An epidemiological study of syphilis and predictors of treatment failure in University Malaya Medical Centre

Mohamed AK, Raja IA, Rukumani DV

Med J Malaysia, 2020 05;75(3):199-203.

INTRODUCTION: There are limited studies on the epidemiology of syphilis in Malaysia. In this study we describe the clinical features and treatment outcomes of patients with syphilis attending a tertiary referral university hospital.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the case records of patients with positive serology findings for syphilis in University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) from January 2010 to December 2015. Serological positivity was defined as having a positive rapid plasma reagin (RPR) or Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) with a confirmatory positive Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay (TPPA). Treatment outcomes were divided into two, success or failure. Demographic and clinical characteristics associated with predictors of treatment failure were assessed using statistical package for the social science (SPSS). This study also included a neurosyphilis descriptive sub-study.

RESULTS: There were 637 patients identified with positive syphilis serology, but 258 patients were excluded as they did not meet the inclusion criteria. 379 patients were then taken for the demographic study; 14 patients (3.7%) were treated for neurosyphilis; 170 patients with complete data were included. In all 42/170 (24.7%) failed treatment, 12/170 (7.1%) had reinfection and 116/170 (68.2%) had treatment success. A final number of 158 patients were then taken and analyzed for predictors of treatment failure after excluding the 12 reinfection patients. Only low baseline RPR (<1:16) was found to be significant on multivariate logistic regression analysis (p value: 0.007, 95% CI: 1.42, 9.21).

CONCLUSION: Most of the patients were HIV positive and from the MSM (Men who have sex with Men) population. Low baseline RPR titre is a predictor of treatment failure.

Matched MeSH terms: Syphilis/diagnosis; Syphilis/drug therapy; Syphilis/epidemiology*; Syphilis/physiopathology*; Syphilis Serodiagnosis

Prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases among new female drug abusers in a rehabilitation centre

Nordin RB, Rahman Bin Isa A, Rusli Bin Abdullah M

Malays J Med Sci, 2001 Jul;8(2):9-13.

PMID: 22893754 MyJurnal

The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among female drug abusers was studied by screening 130 new inmates of a rehabilitation centre. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, physical examination and specimen collection for laboratory investigation at the Community Medicine Clinic of HUSM. The majority (64.6%) were Malays and self-confessed sex workers (77.7%). A high prevalence of syphilis (50.8%), hepatitis B (52.2%), moniliasis (23.8%), trichomoniasis (19.2%) and gonococcal vaginitis (8.5%) was noted. More than half of them harbour 2 or more STDs. Six subjects, of whom 5 were Malays, were HIV positive. The evidence indicates that female drug abusers need a thorough screening for STD followed by an aggressive treatment regimen. Since the majority of them were born Muslims, they should have access to spiritual counselling and rehabilitation, stressing on repentance, and adopting a compassionate and forgiving approach.

Matched MeSH terms: Syphilis

THE VALUE AND MANAGEMENT OF PERSISTENT KAHN POSITIVE IN TREATED SYPHILIS

SAMBHI JS

Med J Malaysia, 1963 Sep;18:19-24.

PMID: 14064291

Matched MeSH terms: Syphilis*; Syphilis Serodiagnosis*; Syphilis, Congenital*; Syphilis, Latent*

Heat inactivation of serum potentiates anti-cardiolipin antibody binding in ELISA

Cheng HM, Ngeow YF, Sam CK

J Immunol Methods, 1989 Nov 30;124(2):235-8.

PMID: 2600427

Heat treatment of sera at 56 degrees C for 30 min results in positive ELISA reactions for anti-cardiolipin antibody (aCL) in sera that had undetectable or low levels of aCL before heat inactivation. The positive, potentiated reactivity of the heated sera in the aCL ELISA could be inhibited with the cardiolipin antigen and was abolished by prior IgG depletion using staphylococcal protein A. The heat-potentiating effect of aCL binding in ELISA was evident in both normal human sera and clinical sera including sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and syphilis.

Matched MeSH terms: Syphilis/immunology

Musculoskeletal lesions in yaws

Sengupta S

Clin Orthop Relat Res, 1985 Jan-Feb;?(192):193-8.

PMID: 3967422

Yaws, a spirochetal infection that is endemic in certain tropical countries, including Malaysia, may present with various orthopedic problems. As the condition is relatively unknown, diagnosis is often missed, which leads to poor management. There are initial, early, and late phases of the disease process. By involving skin, bone, and joints, yaws can produce deep ulcerations, joint deformities, and bone destruction. Within a ten-year period in Malaysia, 14 cases of serologically proven yaws have been treated for chronic ulcers, gross joint deformities, and pathologic fractures.

Matched MeSH terms: Syphilis/diagnosis

Fulltext Early congenital syphilis--a continuing problem in Malaysia

Lim CT, Koh MT, Sivanesaratnam V

Med J Malaysia, 1995 Jun;50(2):131-5.

PMID: 7565181

Between February 1990 and May 1993, 13 cases of early congenital syphilis (ECS) were managed in the Paediatrics Unit, University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Twelve mothers were unbooked with 10 inborn babies. Only one mother had antenatal booking at this hospital but she defaulted antenatal follow-up. Several risk factors associated with ECS were identified: inadequate or no prenatal care (5/13), failure to repeat a serological test for syphilis in the third trimester when it was tested negative at first booking (5/13), sexual promiscuity, substance abuse and a past history of contracting sexually transmitted disease. All 10 mothers who had their serological test repeated at delivery were found to have a positive VDRL and TPHA. Adequate antenatal care early referral of infected, expectant mothers for treatment, and a repeat serological test for syphilis could have prevented these cases of ECS.

Matched MeSH terms: Syphilis/epidemiology; Syphilis, Congenital/diagnosis; Syphilis, Congenital/epidemiology*; Syphilis, Congenital/therapy

Yaws in Borneo, not connected with syphilis

Smith F

Lancet, 1894;144:910.

DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)02047-0

Matched MeSH terms: Syphilis

Fulltext Syphilis in the military community

Supramaniam V

Med J Malaysia, 1980 Mar;34(3):248-53.

PMID: 7412665

288 notifications of syphilis in military personnel for 1974 to 1978 are analysed. 56 cases are primary and 232 are latent syphilis in service personnel and 13 in women and children. Antenatal screening detected 56 cases (0.9%) of syphilis. Only 24 cases among soldiers had confirmatory tests done. Treatment varied and some were inadequately treated, others overtreated and many with incorrect schedules. Intramuscular penicillin was the treatment of choice in 85% of cases. Follow-up of cases was inadequate. In all, it indicated a poor control programme for STD. A good programme is possible within the armed forces set-up and a number of measures are suggested.

Matched MeSH terms: Syphilis/drug therapy; Syphilis/prevention & control*

Hemorrhagic Descemet Membrane Detachment Following Syphilitic Interstitial Keratitis

Höllhumer R, Zairani Mz A, Watson S

Cornea, 2016 Sep;35(9):1255-6.

PMID: 27227396 DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0000000000000889

PURPOSE: Syphilitic interstitial keratitis is a stromal inflammatory disease with characteristic secondary vascularization. This case illustrates a late complication of hemorrhagic Descemet membrane detachment.

METHODS: Case report.

RESULTS: The patient presented with painless sudden visual loss and progressive shallowing of the anterior chamber caused by hemorrhagic Descemet membrane detachment. She had corneal neovascularization and a positive syphilis serology. Owing to the risk of pupil block glaucoma, the patient had surgical drainage of the blood via an ab externo approach.

CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates a previously unreported complication of syphilitic interstitial keratitis. The patient recovered good visual acuity and had residual pigment deposits in the pre-Descemet interface.

Matched MeSH terms: Syphilis/diagnosis; Syphilis/microbiology*; Syphilis/therapy

Fulltext Clinical Profile and Visual Outcomes of Ocular Syphilis: A Five-year Review in Hospital Universiti Sains, Malaysia

Ghanimi Zamli AK, Irma Ngah NS, Chew-Ean T, Muhammed J, Wan Hitam WH, Hussein A, et al.

Cureus, 2019 Feb 05;11(2):e4015.

PMID: 31007973 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.4015

Introduction Ocular syphilis is a sight-threatening condition. It can occur at any stage of syphilis infection, which present either with acute inflammation during the primary, secondary, and early latent stages or with chronic inflammation during tertiary infection, affecting virtually every ocular structure. This study was to report on the clinical presentation of ocular syphilis that presented to eye clinic Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Methodology This was a retrospective study where medical records of ocular syphilis patients who attended eye clinic in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia from January 2013 to June 2017 were reviewed. Results A total of 10 patients (13 eyes) with ocular syphilis were identified out of 106 cases that presented with ocular inflammation. The mean age of presentation was 69.8 ± 6.4 years and seven of them (70%) were female. All patients were Malay and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was negative. The ocular manifestations included panuveitis (four eyes, 30.8%), anterior uveitis (two eyes, 15.4%), posterior uveitis (seven eyes, 53.8%) and optic neuritis (two eyes, 15.4%). Seven (53.8%) eyes presented with visual acuity of worse than 6/60, five (38.5%) eyes had visual acuity between 6/15 to 6/60, and one (7.7%) eye had visual acuity of 6/12 or better. Nine patients received an intravenous benzylpenicillin regime and one patient received an intramuscular penicillin injection. Out of 13 eyes affected, 11 (84.6%) eyes had improved visual acuity of at least one Snellen line after treatment. Visual acuity of 6/12 or better increased to four (30.8%) eyes. Conclusions Posterior uveitis was the commonest presentation of ocular syphilis in HIV-negative patients. Early detection and treatment of ocular syphilis can result in resolution of inflammation and improvement of vision.

Matched MeSH terms: Syphilis

Fulltext A case of syphilitic coma

von Tunzelmann EW

Journal of the Straits Medical Association, 1890;1:36-42.

Matched MeSH terms: Syphilis

Fulltext Prevalence survey of sexually transmitted diseases among sex workers and women attending antenatal clinics: Malaysia (1999-2000)

Citation: Prevalence survey of sexually transmitted diseases among sex workers and women attending antenatal clinics: Malaysia (1999-2000). Manila: World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Western Pacific; 2001

Matched MeSH terms: Syphilis

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