syphilis

Syphilis

Dr. Ammar Al-Faisal.

Syphilis

sexually transmitted disease Spirochete :Treponema pallidum. Methods of transmission includes: Sexual contact with infected partner. Transplacental (blood test must done before marriage) . Rarly through blood transfusion.

Treponema pallidum

Spiral (corkscrew) spirochete that is motile. Number of spirals varies from 4 to 14 Length 5 to 20 microns Can be seen on fresh primary or secondary lesions by darkfield microscopy or fluorescent antibody techniques


T.Pallidum Motility has three movements Projection and rotation in the direction of the long axis Bending or twisting from side to side

Classification of Syphilis Early syphilis includes: Primary , Secondary and early latent. Late syphilis includes ; late latent syphilis and tertiary syphilis. tertiary syphilis clinically subclassified as : 1-benign tertiary syphilis. 2-cardiovascular syphilis. 3-neurosyphilis. Congenital syphilis Early symptomatic: Occurring up to age of 2 yr.(overt disease). Late symptomatic: Occurring later in life.

primary Syphilis

14 to 21 days after infection. Mainly presents with Chancre : Chancre is the first cutaneous lesion . Round indurated papule with ulceration in the center that exudes a serous fluid. Has cartilage-like consistency(indurated). Usually painless and single. At any site of penis, glans, coronal sulcus, shaft.

Chancre

Heals within 1-2 weeks after treatment or spontaneously in 1-6 weeks. (without scarring) All above features means chancre is classic and called Hunterian chancre. Associated with inguinal adenopathy during the early weeks of infection

Chancres

Women genital chancre less often observed due to location within the vagina and cervix Edema of labia may occur Extragenital chancre: frequently on lips, rarely tongue, tonsil, breast, finger, anus.

Investigations for primary syphilis. serous exudate collected on a slide sent for Demonstration of T.Pallidum by : 1-Dark field examination.(showing the motil spirochetes.) 2-Direct fluorescent antibody tissue test (DFAT-TP)-

Serology for primary syphilis

Non-treponemal tests usually positive. Treponemal tests used to confirm the diagnosis. Positivity depends upon duration of infection, if chancre has been present for several weeks, tests are usually positive

Chancre vs. Chancroid

Incubation period (avearage3 weeks) Painless ulcer, Usually single firm (indurated) Lymphadenopathy may be bilateral, nontender, non suppurative
Incubation 4-7 days Ulcer inflamed, very painful. Usually multiple. Soft. Lymphadenopathy unilateral, tender, suppurative

Ddx in of primary Syphilis

Chancroid; multiple lesions.(herepes genitalis)HSV; grouped vesicles, burning pain, recuarrent. Granuloma Inguinale; indurated nodule that erodes, soft red granulation tissue, Donovan’s bodies in macrophages with Giemsa’s stainLymphogranuloma Venereum; small, painless, superficial non indurated ulcer, with adenopathy



Secondary Syphilis
Usually starts several weeks after infection (usually the chancre is absent). Generalized symmetrical rash: face, trunk, limbs, anal or genital areas. Usually not itchy. polymorphic eruption: may be macular, papular, pustular or may be scaly (psoriasiform or lichenoid). Characteristically palms and soles involved. Generalized lymphadenopathy may present.

Secondary Syphilis 

Hair involvement may occur producing: moth eaten alopecia.

Secondary Syphilis

. Condylomata lata; papular gray masses, weeping, in the groin or anus (not vegetative like condylomata acuminata).it is highly infectious.

Secondary SyphilisMucous Membrane

Present in 1/3 of secondary syphilisMost common is “syphilitic sore throat”Diffuse pharyngitis, hoarsenessTongue; patches of desquamation of papillae, Ulcerations of tongue .

Secondary SyphilisMucous membrane

Mucous patches are the most characteristic lesions in the oral cavity; (snail track ulcer).

Secondary SyphilisSystemic Involvement

Lymphadenopathy is common. Organ involvment: Glomerulonephritis, gastritis, proctitis, hepatitis, meningitis, iritis, uveitis, optic neuritis, pulmonary nodular infiltrates, osteomyelitis, polyarthritis.

Secondary SyphilisDiagnosis

Nontreponemal and Trepanomal serologic tests for syphilis are strongly reactive. Mucous membrane lesions and condylmata lata can demonstrate Spirochetes on darkfield exam.

Serologic Tests

Nonspecific or lipoidal antigens (non-treponemal antigen tests) RPR; rapid plasma reagin VDRL; Venereal Disease Research Laboratory Used for syphilis screening and to follow up patients after treatment.

Serologic Tests

specific treponemal antigen. Used to improve sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis but not for follow up of treatment. MHA-TP: microhemagglutination assay for T. pallidum FTA-ABS: fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test All positive nontreponemal test results should be confirmed with a specific treponemal test

Serologic Tests

Positive within 5 to 6 weeks after infection (primary syphilis). Strongly positive in secondary phase Strength of reaction is stated in dilutions May become negative with treatment or over decades

Serologic Tests

Treponemal tests become positive early, useful in confirming primary syphilis Remain positive for life, useful in diagnosing late disease The main diagnostic tests in secondary syphilis

Biologic False-Positive Test

Positive Serological tests in persons with no history or clinical evidence of syphilis Acute BFP: those that revert to negative in less than 6 months Chronic BFP: persist > 6 months

BFP Test Results in Syphilis

Acute BFP Vaccinations Infections pregnancy
Chronic BFP Connective tissue disease (SLE) Liver disease Blood transfusions

Latent Syphilis

After the lesions of secondary syphilis have involuted, a latent period occurs which is Asymptomatic, but serologic tests positive Early latent syphilis (infection < 1 yr duration), Late latent syphilis (infection > 1 yr duration) May last a few months or a lifetime 2/3 of the untreated will remain asymptomatic for life while 1/3 progress to tertiary syphilis. Women may infect unborn child for 2 years

Late Syphilis

Defined as infection of greater than 1 year duration.it includes: Late latent syphilis(Asymptomatic) Tertiary Cutaneous Syphilis Tertiary Osseous Syphilis Tertiary Neurosyphilis Tertiary Cardiovascular Syphilis

Tertiary Cutaneous Syphilis

Tertiary syphilids usually occur 3-5 years after infection Occur in 16% of untreated pts. Skin lesions are localized, destructive, heal with scarring (ex:Gumma)

Diagnosis of Tertiary Syphilis

Histopathology tuberculoid granules with multinucleate giant cells Nontreponemal tests (VDRL, RPR) positive in 75% Treponemal tests (FTA-ABS, MHA-TP, TPI) positive in nearly 100% Darkfield negative, PCR may be positive

Neurosyphilis

CNS involvement with syphilis can occur at any stage Most are asymptomatic; CSF pleocytosis, or a positive CSF serology 4-10% of untreated pts will develop neurosyphilis

Meningovascular Neurosyphilis

Thrombosis of vessels in the CNSHemiplegia, aphasia, CN palsies; (IIX, III, IV, VI)“Argyll Robertson Pupil” accommodates, but doesn’t react

Late Neurosyphilis

Parenchymatous neurosyphilis occurs more than 10 years after infection Two classical patterns; Tabes Dorsalis, and General Paresis

Late Cardiovascular Syphilis

Aortitis; aortic insufficiency, coronary disease, aortic aneurysm

Congenital Syphilis

Prenatal syphilis acquired in utero Infection through the placenta usually does not occur before the fourth month, so treatment of the mother before this time will almost always prevent infection in the fetus. If infection occurs after the fourth month 40% risk of fetal death

Congenital Syphilis

40% of pregnancies in women with untreated early syphilis will result in a syphilitic infant. Most neonates with congenital syphilis are normal at birth. Early congenital syphilis; lesions occurring within first two years of life Late congenital syphilis; lesion occur after two years

Early Congenital Syphilis

Cutaneous manifestations appear most commonly during 3rd week Snuffles (a form of Rhinitis) is most frequent, bloody drainage, ulcers may develop, later septal perforations cutaneous lesions similar to secondary syphilis.

Late Congenital Syphilis

Lesions are two types; malformations of tissue affected at critical growth periods (Stigmata), and persistent inflammatory fociInflammatory; lesions of the cornea, bones, and central nervous system. Ie; Interstitial Keratitis in 20-50%, perisynovitis of knees (Clutton’s joints).


Late Congenital Syphilis
Malformations (Stigmata); destructive effects leave scars or developmental defectsHutchinson’s Triad; Changes in incisors, corneal scars, and eighth nerve deafnessAlso; saber shins, rhagades of the lips, saddle nose, mulberry molars

Hutchinson’s Teeth Malformation of the central upper incisors that appears in the second or permanent teeth. Teeth are cylindrical rather than flattened, cutting edge narrower than base, notch may develop Mulberry molar; first molar hyperplastic, flat occlusal surface covered with knobs representing abortive cusps

Treatment of Syphilis

Pencillin is drug of choice for treatment of all stages of syphilis. HIV testing is recommended in all patients If less than one year (primary,secondary,early latent); single intramuscular 2.4 MU of Benzathine pencilline ( PCN). PCN-allergic; doxycycline 100mg orally twice daily for 14 days

Treatment

Syphilis >1year(late latent,tertiary syphilis) 2.4M benzathin PCN weekly for 3 weeks Pcn-allergic; doxycycline 100mg orally twice daily for 28 days Neurosyphilis; IV crystalline PCN.

Treatment of Sex Partners

Persons exposed to a patient with early syphilis within the previous 3 months should be treated, even if seronegative Single dose azithromycin effective in treating incubating syphilis

Jarisch- Herxheimer Reaction

Febrile reaction occurs after the initial dose of antisyphilitic tx , 60-90% of pts 6-8 hours after dose, chills, fever, myalgia, increase in inflammation.