All issues > Volume 8(5); 1965

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1965;8(5):1-8. Published online November 30, 1965.

Hematological Aspects of Congenital Syphilis

Jae Hak Seo¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul National University.

Abstract

The hematologic abnormalities of this disease have received relatively little attention in the past but have been prominent in the patients whom we have observed. Study on the hematological aspects in 3 cases of congenital syphilis with consideration given to pathogenesis of anemia was undertaken. The results were as follow; 1.Hemolytic anemia was present all of 3 infants with congenital syphilis. The most marked hemolytic activity was present during the first and second week of illness. The anemia was progressive in spite of penicillin therapy. 2.All of the 3 infants presenting during the first week of life showed evidence of associated active red cell regeneration with reticulocytosis ranging from 4.5 to 6.2 per cent. 3.Thrombocytopenia was present at the onset of illness in 3 patients, and platelet level returned to normal during penicillin therapy. 4.Leukocyte counts varied widely except increased eosinophil count of 3 cases and did not always reflect the severity of the disease. 5.Jaundice was characterized by elevation of both conjugated and unconjugated forms of bilirubin in 3 infants of congenital syphilis.

Keywords :