title: Diagnostic evaluation of syphilis during pregnancy.
abstract: Obstetric patients with serologic evidence of syphilis should have cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis to determine the presence of tertiary disease. In the present study, 19% of untreated and asymptomatic patients with serologic evidence of syphilis were found to have tertiary syphilis following examination of CSF. Despite maternal therapy, 11% of the infants born to mothers with syphilis had reactive serum and CSF involvement as documented by the presence of a fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS)-specific IgM.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D013590:Syphilis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis; D014208:Treponema / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007075:Immunoglobulin M