Immunosuppression in patients with syphilis and problems of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

An investigation of the induced suppression and cytotoxicity of T lymphocytes, carried out in 57 patients with different forms of syphilis, has made it possible to find some reasons for the depression of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in patients with early syphilis. The analysis of the immunoreaction of patients with different forms of syphilis clarifies the influence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on the dynamics and formation of syphilis manifestations.

[The combination of syphilis and HIV infection].

Seven cases of a combined course of syphilis ad HIV infection are described. All the patients are men, homo- and bisexuals. No apparent clinical features of syphilis in these patients were detectable.