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Syphilis among HIV-infected mothers and their
infants in Texas from 1988 to 1994.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases 2001;28(6):315-320.
Schulte JM,
Burkham S, Hamaker D, St. Louis ME, Paffel JM, Hutcheson D, Caldwell MB,
Dominguez KL, Levine WC.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Syphilis was investigated in a group of HIV-infected women and
their infants. GOAL: To assess syphilis morbidity among HIV-infected women
and their infants. Among women with syphilis during pregnancy, the risks
for delivering an infant with congenital syphilis were assessed. STUDY DESIGN:
Through the Pediatric Spectrum of HIV Disease project, Texas infants born
to HIV-infected women were identified. After the infants were matched with
their mothers, it was determined which had been reported as syphilis cases.
RESULTS: In this study 18% of the HIV-infected mothers were reported as syphilis
cases, most during pregnancy. Half of these mothers delivered infants (n
= 49) with congenital syphilis. Inadequate prenatal care was the only significant
risk for delivering an infant with congenital syphilis. The congenital syphilis
rate among Texas infants of HIV-infected mothers was 48.8 per 1,000 live
births. CONCLUSION: The congenital syphilis rate among Texas infants born
to HIV-infected mothers was almost 50 times that of the general population.