Predictors of serological failure after treatment in HIV-infected patients with early syphilis in the emerging Era of universal antiretroviral therapy use

Table 1 Clinical characteristics of 560 HIV-infected patients with early syphilis

Characteristic	No. (%)
Age, median year [IQR]	40 [34,45]
Male sex	556 (99)
Race
Hispanic	249 (44)
White	214 (38)
Black	62 (11)
Other/Unknown	35 (6)
MSM	541 (96)
Methamphetamine use	191 (34)
Hepatitis B or C	115 (21)
Syphilis history	287 (51)
Other STD^a	419 (75)
Median RPR titers [IQR]	1:64 [1:32,1:128]
<1:32	134 (24)
≥1:32	426 (76)
ART	486 (87)
CD4 T-cell count
Median CD4 T-cell count, cells/ml [IQR]	491 [345,683]
<350 cells/mL	144 (26)
≥350 cells/mL	415 (74)
HIV RNA
Median HIV RNA level, copies/ml [IQR]	ND [ND,631]
Not detectable^b	400 (72)
Detectable	160 (28)
Early syphilis stage
Primary	77 (14)
Secondary	146 (26)
Early latent	337 (60)
Treatment regimen
3 doses of benzathine penicillin	434 (78)
1 dose of benzathine penicillin	47 (8.4)
Doxycycline	78 (14)
Azithromycin	1 (0.2)

Data are number (%) of patients, unless otherwise indicated. IQR, interquartile range; MSM, men who have sex with men; RPR, rapid plasma regain test; STD, sexually transmitted disease; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; DM, diabetes mellitus; ART, combination antiretroviral therapy; ND, not detectable.
^aOther STD include documented Neisseria gonorrhoeae, chlamydia trachomatis, herpes, and genital warts.
^bDefined as <400 copies/mL.

ISSN: 1471-2334