Studies of serologic test for syphilis in Korean pregnant women.

의학과/석사[한글] [영문] It is well knwon that syphilis in pregnancy is injurious to mother and fetus. The prevention of prenatal syphilis by treatment of the infected mother with penicillin during pregnancy is one of the major triumphs in modern medicine. syphilis in pregnancy has decreased in almost all countries in the world. The treponema pallidum, the causative agent, is very sensitive to penicillin and registant strains have not been found yet. Neverthless there is still a vast reservoir of infection and an alarming amount of undiscovered syphilis in the population. Recent information, obtained by the Medical Clinics of North America for the years 1960 to 1961 shows that the total number of reported cases of infective syphilis has risen three times in United States. In Korea, there is little documentary evidence of increase of syphilis since 1963. The diagnosis and treatment of syphilis in pregnancy are the same as for any syphilitic person, except that here we are not only concerned with curing the pregnant woman but also hope to avoid congenital syphilis in the baby. In some cases we may be pressed for time and forced to modify our general rules of diagnosis and treatment, in an effort to avoid the birth of a syphilitic infant. In order to know the current pattern of syphilis among prognant women, 2838 women who delivered at Severance Hospital from 1962 to June. 1966, were analysed and the following results were obtained. 1. During the 4 1/2 years from Jan, 1962 to Jun, 1962 to June, 1966, the rate of positive V.D.R.L. test's was 5.2%. The rate of biological false positive test among the positive V.D.R.L. tests was 54%. 2. 51% of the gravidas received a V.D.R.L. test during or after delivery. Only 20% of the positive cases received the test prior to the 7th month of gestation. 3. The majority of the patients with positive V.D.R.L. and R.P.C.F. test were primigravidas 26-30 years in age. 4. 92% of the syphilitic pregnant women had latent syphilis. 5. Either a stillbirth or a premature delivery was noted in 48% of the positive R.P.C.F. untreated cases. 83% of the premature infants died during the neonatal period. There were no deaths among the term infants. 6. Emphasis is placed upon the necessity of finding and treating all cases of syphilis during pregnancy. 7. In addition to general educations about syphilis, it is recommended that pre-marital serologic tests for syphilis be required by law.restrictio