title: [Syphilis as a chronic systemic infection].
abstract: During the last STDs'epidemic in Russia (1994 - 2004) over 2.7 min people have been infected with syphilis. At present the structure of syphilis morbidity is characterized by 37% of latent forms, including 1.5% late latency. The increased level of late latency may result from: an ever-growing number of those with asymptomatic syphilis; disorderly and self-dependent usage of antibacterial preparations; spread of the virus chronic infections (herpes, hepatitis B, C) altering the macroorganism immune response; alcohol and drug abuse which decreases the efficacy of specific therapy. In general, chronization of the syphilitic infection may be caused by antigenically inert treponemal cell surface; paucity of outer membrane protein; residence of treponemas within an immunoprotective niche; uncompleted phagocytosis of treponemes with macrophages. Syphilis remains an "infectio magna" and demands thorough attention to all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures on every stage of the disease.
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Nesterenko
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Akovbian
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Semenova
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Vavilova
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Iudina
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008264:Macrophages / Q000382:microbiology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial