Evaluation of Patients with HIV and Syphilis Co-infection

Abstract

Introduction: Coinfections of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis can be seen due to reasons such as common risk group and transmission routes. In our study, it was aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of syphilis and the clinical features of the patients living with HIV. Materials and Methods: Data of 277 HIV-infected patients in Health Sciences University Umraniye Education and Research Hospital between January 2016 and December 2021 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: A total of 277 patients living with HIV were included in the study. Two hundred thirty-five (85%) of the patients were male and the mean age was 42.86 ± 13.40 years. HIV/syphilis coinfections were detected in 15% of newly diagnosed HIV patients and 25% during follow-up period. Among patients with HIV/syphilis coinfection 94% of patients were in the latent stage of syphilis, 6% of them were in the secondary stage. Neurosyphilis was diagnosed in one patient. The rate of syphilis was found to be statistically significantly higher in male, and alcohol-consuming patients. In heterosexual cases, the rate of not detecting syphilis was statistically significant. Conclusion: In our region, HIV/syphilis seroprevalence was found to be 25% during the study period. Syphilis coinfection was found to be statistically significant in male, and alcohol-consuming patients living with HIV. Considering the increasing seroprevalence of syphilis and HIV co-infection in the world, close follow-up of patients with HIV-infected risk factors for syphilis is recommended.