Table 2 Syphilis treatment regimens, nontreponemal antibody tests, estimated proportions with serological cure and serological non-response at time points after therapy
First Author | Main syphilis treatment regimens | Alternative syphilis treatment regimens | Non-treponemal antibody test | % Serological cure (≥ 4-fold decline in nontreponemal titers or seroreversion) | % Serological non-response (< 4-fold decline in nontreponemal titers) | Time period assessed after therapy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dionne-Odom | 1–3 doses benzathine PCN G (2.4 MU IM weekly) | None | RPR | 66.8 | 26.6 | 400 days |
Fiumara | 2 doses benzathine PCN G (2.4 MU IM weekly) | Tetracycline | RPR | 64.1 | 33.6 | < 5 years |
Ghanem (2007) [23] | Benzathine PCN G (1 dose for early syphilis, 3 doses for late syphilis) | Doxycycline | RPR | 87.9 | 9.1 | 400 days |
Ghanem (2008) [24] | Benzathine PCN G (1 dose for early syphilis, 3 doses for late syphilis) | Doxycycline | RPR | 60.5 | 14.4 | 9–12 monthsa |
Goemen | 3 doses benzathine PCN G (2.4 MU IM weekly) | None | RPR | 23.4 | 71.3 | 6 months |
27.5 | 62.5 | 12 months | ||||
40.0 | 56.7 | 24 months | ||||
Jinno | 1–3 doses benzathine PCN G (2.4 MU IM weekly) | Doxycycline | RPR | 90.9 | 9.1 | 9–12 months |
Knaute | 1–3 doses benzathine PCN G (2.4 MU IM weekly); aqueous PCN G for tertiary syphilis | None | VDRL | 96.3 | 3.7 | 6 months |
97.7 | 2.3 | 9 months | ||||
99.1 | 0.9 | 12–18 months | ||||
Li | 2 doses benzathine PCN G (2.4 MU IM weekly) | Not reported | RPR | 85.0 | 15.0 | 6 months |
Long | 1–3 doses benzathine PCN G (2.4 MU IM weekly) | Doxycycline | RPR | 93.4 | 6.6 | 12 months |
Malone | 3 doses benzathine PCN G (2.4 MU IM weekly) | PCN G procaine with probenecid or IV PCN G | VDRL | 79.8 | 2.3 | 12 months |
Manavi | 1–3 doses benzathine PCN G (2.4 MU IM weekly) | Doxycycline for 21 days | VDRL | 68.2 | 31.4 | 12 months |
Reidner | 1 dose benzathine PCN (2.4 MU IM) | Azithromycin | RPR | 96.4 | 3.6 | 9 months |
Rolfs | 1 dose benzathine PCN (2.4 MU IM) | 1 dose benzathine PCN enhanced with 10 day course of amoxicillin and probenecid | RPR | 89.3 | 10.7 | 6 months |
90.3 | 9.7 | 12 months | ||||
Romanowski | 1 dose benzathine PCN (2.4 MU IM) | Tetracycline or erythromycin | RPR | 77.9 | 22.1 | 6 months |
88.8 | 11.2 | 12 months | ||||
95.1 | 4.9 | 24 months | ||||
Seña | 1 dose benzathine PCN (2.4 MU IM) or azithromycin (2g PO) | Doxycycline | RPR | 78.5 | 20.5 | 6 months |
Tittes | 1–3 doses benzathine PCN (2.4 MU IM weekly) | None | VDRL | 95.2 | 4.8 | 6 months |
Tong | 1–3 doses benzathine PCN (2.4 MU IM weekly) | Azithromycin IM or IV | RPR | 64.1 | 35.9 | 6 months |
65.6 | 34.4 | 12 months | ||||
Tsai | 1 dose benzathine PCN (2.4MU IM) | Doxycycline | RPR | 69.5 | 25.9 | 6 months |
67.8 | 32.3 | 12 months | ||||
Wu | 1 dose benzathine PCN or azithromycin | 3 doses of benzathine PCN or doxycycline | RPR | 74.7 | 25.3 | 6 months |
Yang | 1–3 doses benzathine PCN (doses NR) | None | RPR | 79.1 | 5.6 | 6 months |
70.9 | 4.2 | 12 months |