Serological Syphilis Testing in Brazilian Older Adults
Objectives: Syphilis is a silent disease detectable via serological tests, though interpreting results can be complex, particularly in older adults. This study examined laboratory findings in older adults who tested positive for syphilis through serological tests. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in Curitiba, Brazil, involving individuals over 60 years old, of both sexes, who tested positive for CMIA syphilis tests but negative for VDRL. FTA-ABS was performed as a confirmatory test, and demographic/clinical data were collected from medical records. Results: A total of 311 patients were studied, 53.1% male, with a median age of 69 years. No significant differences were found between sexes or ages. Previous syphilis diagnoses were found in 7.4% of patients, and 10.2% had undergone prior treatment for syphilis. Of the patients, 23.4% came from internal medicine, 18.3% from neurology, and 17.3% from infectious disease clinics. False-positive CMIA results were observed in 14.1% of cases
