title: The effects of early syphilis on CD4 counts and HIV-1 RNA viral loads in blood and semen.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of early syphilis on blood and semen plasma HIV-1 viral loads and CD4 counts.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective case-control study, blood plasma HIV-1 viral loads and CD4 counts in cases during early syphilis (n = 63, 27 receiving antiretroviral therapy) were compared to those before and after syphilis and with controls with non-systemic acute sexually transmitted infections (STI) (n = 104, 39 receiving antiretroviral therapy). In a prospective substudy in those not receiving antiretroviral therapy, semen plasma viral loads during early syphilis (n = 13) were compared with those 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment for syphilis and with controls with no STIs (n = 20).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Retrospective study: CD4 counts were similar in cases (median 410, n = 139 counts) during early syphilis compared to before (485, n = 80) and after (475, n = 88). In a secondary analysis, a drop in CD4 count (21%) among those with early latent syphilis was observed compared with controls. Blood plasma viral loads did not change significantly overall or in those with primary, secondary, or early latent syphilis. Effects were similar on or off antiretroviral therapy. Prospective study: blood and semen viral loads were slightly higher in cases compared with controls but treatment of early syphilis did not reduce either.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We detected no association between early syphilis and changes in blood or semen viral load or CD4 count. Increased HIV-1 infectivity associated with early syphilis is unlikely to be associated with increased levels of HIV-1 RNA in blood or semen.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research, Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College, London, UK. ssadiq@sgul.ac.uk
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Sadiq
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McSorley
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Copas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaye
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: I V D
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Weller
mesh_terms: D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D015497:HIV-1; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000382:microbiology*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral