Serological follow-up of newborns after standardized treatment of 157 pregnant women with pregnant syphilis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the serological changes in newborns after standardized treatment of pregnant women with syphilis. Methods: Syphilis infection was retrospectively analyzed in pregnant women and newborns in the prenatal clinics from January 2012 to June 2016. Results: In 157 newborns, 40 cases (25.5%) showed both TRUST and TPPA positive, and 106 cases (67.5%) were only TPPA positive. In newborns whose mothers were positive for both TRUST and TPPA, 40 newborns were positive for both TRUST and TPPA, and 105 newborns were TPPA positive, which both were higher than that whose mothers were only TPPA positive. In those 40 newborns with both TRUST and TPPA positive, TRUST and TPPA became negative in 39 (97.5%) and 8 (20.0%) cases, respectively, within six months. Thirty two out of these 40 newborns (80.0%) became negative for TRUST within 3 months, while 25 (62.5%) were TPPA negative within 9 months. TPPA was negative in all 40 cases within 12 months after birth. Of 106 newborns with only TPPA positive, 13 (12.3%) cases became TPPA negative within 6 months, and 75 (70.7%) cases were TPPA negative within 9 months after birth. Within 12 months after birth, all cases were TPPA negative. No neonate developed congenital syphilis during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Standardized treatment of pregnant women with syphilis can significantly reduce the risk of congenital syphilis.

Keywords

• pregnant syphilis
• congenital
• compliance
• serology