Quinine iodobismuthate in the treatment of syphilis complicating pregnancy

Abstract

1.1. A group of 34 pregnant syphilitic women were treated with quinine iodobismuthate by the intramuscular injection of 2 c.c. of a 10 per cent suspension in oil once a week.2.2. Only 26 or 76.5 per cent of the total group were discharged with living apparently healthy children. Six babies were stillborn, one died neonatally, while another developed evident signs of syphilis.3.3. Among 20 women who received 6 or more treatments, 4 (20 per cent) had stillbirths, while among 12 women in whom treatment was started before the sixth lunar month, 3 (25 per cent) had stillbirths.4.4. From a comparison with other groups of syphilitic pregnant women observed in this clinic it is concluded that quinine iodobismuthate afforded little protection to the pregnancy, and was markedly inferior to arsenical therapy.