Abstract
To the Editor.— We did not intend to detract from the importance of the dark-field examination in the diagnosis of primary syphilis. Seronegative primary syphilis is well known. The point we wish to make is that by the time a patient comes for treatment, the vast majority (91%) will have seropositive results with the FTA-ABS test. Two of the six patients had dark-field-positive, FTA-ABS-negative results two and four months later, respectively, and remained seronegative to both the VDRL and FTA-ABS tests. Two of the patients in our study stated that their lesions had been present only three days: in one, the VDRL test was nonreactive; in the other, the VDRL test was reactive with a titer of 1:2; in both, the FTA-ABS test was reactive. How early is very early?
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
