Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Oct 21;19(1):20965.
doi: 10.7448/IAS.19.1.20965. eCollection 2016.

Incidence of syphilis seroconversion among HIV-infected persons in Asia: results from the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database

Jin Young Ahn  1   2   3 , David Boettiger  4 , Sasisopin Kiertiburanakul  5 , Tuti Parwati Merati  6 , Bui Vu Huy  7 , Wing Wai Wong  8 , Rossana Ditangco  9 , Man Po Lee  10 , Shinichi Oka  11 , Nicolas Durier  12 , Jun Yong Choi  1   13 ; Treat Asia HIV Observational Database  1
Affiliations

Incidence of syphilis seroconversion among HIV-infected persons in Asia: results from the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database

Jin Young Ahn et al. J Int AIDS Soc. .

Abstract

Introduction: Outbreaks of syphilis have been described among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) in Western communities, whereas reports in Asian countries are limited. We aimed to characterize the incidence and temporal trends of syphilis among HIV-infected MSM compared with HIV-infected non-MSM in Asian countries.

Methods: Patients enrolled in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database cohort and with a negative non-treponemal test since enrolment were analyzed. Incidence of syphilis seroconversion, defined as a positive non-treponemal test after previously testing negative, was evaluated among patients at sites performing non-treponemal tests at least annually. Factors associated with syphilis seroconversion were investigated at sites doing non-treponemal testing in all new patients and subsequently testing routinely or when patients were suspected of having syphilis.

Results: We included 1010 patients from five sites that performed non-treponemal tests in all new patients; those included had negative non-treponemal test results during enrolment and subsequent follow-ups. Among them, 657 patients were from three sites conducting regular non-treponemal testing. The incidence of syphilis seroconversion was 5.38/100 person-years (PY). Incidence was higher in MSM than non-MSM (7.64/100 PY vs. 2.44/100 PY, p<0.001). Among MSM, the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for every additional year from 2009 was 1.19 (p=0.051). MSM status (IRR 3.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.88-6.47), past syphilis diagnosis (IRR 5.15, 95% CI 3.69-7.17) and younger age (IRR 0.84 for every additional 10 years, 95% CI 0.706-0.997) were significantly associated with syphilis seroconversion.

Conclusions: We observed a higher incidence of syphilis seroconversion among HIV-infected MSM and a trend to increasing annual incidence. Regular screening for syphilis and targeted interventions to limit transmission are needed in this population.

Keywords: HIV; MSM; incidence; seroconversion; syphilis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Incidence of syphilis seroconversion among HIV-infected patients by year (n=657).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Incidence of syphilis seroconversion among MSM and non-MSM by year (n=657). MSM, men who have sex with men.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexually transmitted disease surveillance 2014 [Internet] 2015. [cited 2015 Nov 1]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats14.
    1. World Health Organization. Global incidence and prevalence of selected curable sexually transmitted infection 2008 [Internet] 2012. [cited 2015 Nov 1]. Available from: http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/rtis/stisestimates/en.
    1. UNAIDS. Global report: UNAIDS report on the global AIDS Epidemic 2013 [Internet] 2013. [cited 2015 Nov 1]. Available from: http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/campaigns/globalreport2013/globalreport.
    1. Suguimoto SP, Techasrivichien T, Musumari PM, El-saaidi C, Lukhele BW, Ono-Kihara M, et al. Changing patterns of HIV epidemic in 30 years in East Asia. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2014;11(2):134–45. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11904-014-0201-4. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Stamm WE, Handsfield HH, Rompalo AM, Ashley RL, Roberts PL, Corey L. The association between genital ulcer disease and acquisition of HIV infection in homosexual men. JAMA. 1988;260(10):1429–33. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1988.03410100119036. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources