HIV and syphilis: Maternal and fetal considerations

Three cases of women and their offspring with clinical or serologic evidence of syphilis in the setting of HIV infection are discussed. There is concern that infection with HIV may alter the host immune response to syphilis as well as the response to appropriate therapy. There is also concern that infection with syphilis may facilitate maternal-fetal transfer of HIV. These concerns remain unanswered at the present time, and further investigation of these issues will be necessary before a change in current recommendations for evaluation and treatment of syphilis in pregnant women and their newborn infants should be considered.