Syphilis in HIV/AIDS Patients

Syphilis and HIV infection share the same high-risk groups and transmission ways, so coinfection is common. Syphilis enhances the risk of the transmission and acquisition of HIV. The natural history and clinical manifestations of syphilis can be modified by concomitant HIV infection, which can rapidly progress from primary syphilis to tertiary syphilis. HIV infection can change the face of syphilis. In primary syphilis, chancre lesions can be multiple and larger; ocular syphilis can occur in early and late syphilis; malignant syphilis is more common in AIDS patients. The biological false negative of nontreponemal cardiolipin test is common in HIV/AIDS patients with syphilis. The incidence of neurosyphilis is significantly increased, while the diagnosis of neurosyphilis is difficult because of HIV infection.