PMID: 2484476Nov 1, 1989Paper

Importance of looking for specific IgM in serological investigations for syphilis

Annali di igiene : medicina preventiva e di comunità
G PiantieriF Banfi

Abstract

Syphilis is still a quite common infection often lacking clinical symptoms and sometimes ignored. Serological tests have peculiar importance in order to settle the diagnosis and therapy. Traditional tests as VDRL and TPHA cannot clearly define the clinical pattern because these tests remain positive for a long period of time. Moreover they can prove the recovery of the patients only if they continue to give low titres. The immunofluorescence test FTA ABS, that raised interest at its outset, has low sensitivity against IgM specific antibodies and defines serological state of patients only in 50% of the cases. The reading of this test remains subjective. The authors intend to verify the importance to detect the IgM specific antibodies to assume medical and legal decisions in unknown subjects, without clinical knowledge. 20,000 sera of normal subjects and of risk group have been assayed. Specific IgM are absent in 60 clinically recovered subjects with VDRL and TPHA still positive, specific IgM are present in 15 cases of Syphilis under treatment and also in 15 subjects with unknown Syphilis. The results show that: 1) IgM specific antibodies for Syphilis are not detectable in patients under a long term antibiotic treatment while the...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.