Response of HIV-infected patients with syphilis to therapy with penicillin or intravenous ceftriaxone

  • Eur J Med Res. 2011 Feb 24;16(2):47-51. doi: 10.1186/2047-783x-16-2-47.
Petra Spornraft-Ragaller  1 ,  S Abraham ,  C Lueck ,  M Meurer
Affiliations
  • 1. Dept. of Dermatology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University of Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany. [email protected]
PMID: 21463980 DOI: 10.1186/2047-783x-16-2-47
Abstract

Background: Ceftriaxone is commonly used as an alternative Antibiotic drug in treating syphilis but clinical data on its efficacy are limited.

Objective: To evaluate the response of HIV-infected patients with active syphilis to treatment with penicillin or ceftriaxone. -

Methods: A retrospective study involving 24 consecutive patients with a positive Veneral Disease Research Laboratory test (VDRL) and at least one specific treponemal test. 12 patients were treated with different regimens of high-dose penicillin G for at least 2 weeks. Another 12 patients were treated with ceftriaxone 1-2g per day intravenously for 10-21 days. -

Results: After a median follow up of 18,3 months all patients of the penicillin-treated group and 11 of 12 ceftriaxone-treated patients showed a ≥ 4-fold decline in VDRL-titers; 91% of them already within 6 months after therapy. -

Conclusion: Our serological data demonstrate a comparable efficacy of currently recommened penicillin and ceftriaxone treatment regimens for active syphilis in HIV-infected patients.

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