Antibiotics in early syphilis and in syphilis complicated by pregnancy.

Abstract

THE RENEWED interest in syphilotherapy that began with Ehrlich, who at first believed that arsphenamine could eradicate syphilis with one injection, has continued with the hope that some such quick cure could be found. Pollitzer 1 and, in more recent years, Chargin 2 believed that by giving arsenical treatments daily for a few days or by administering large doses in a slow but continuous drip method one could obtain a cure. However, serious reactions due to intensive arsenical therapy were reported, and in a few instances death occurred. When Mahoney and co-workers 3 reported that injections of penicillin were curative and caused no reactions, it was felt that the ultimate safe cure had been found. It was soon noted that the 600,000 units originally used was not sufficient for cure, and relapses were frequent. Even with the dose increased to 1,200,000 and 2,400,000 units, too many recurrences were noted. It