Hematologic investigations for 7 years at the Pediatric Department of Yonsei Medical Center of 52 syphilitic infants were reviewed. A moderate degree of anemia with red cell regeneration was observed in 40 infants (76.0%). Marked. thrombocytopenia but without active bleeding was found in 19 infants, and with active bleeding in 3 infants. A wide range of leukocyte counts, relative lymphocytosis and monocytosis were prominant features. The jaundice was mainly due to unconjugated bilirubin in 6 infants, conjugated as well as unconjugated bilirubin in 8 infants. With therapy, the above abnormal hematologic findings showed marked improvement. Early diagnosis is essential. Prevention and congenital syphilis depend on a high level of clinical suspicion, supported by routine and diagnostic use of laboratory and serologic aids, in the asymptomatic or minimally symptomtaic infants.
Bilirubin/blood ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Platelets ; Female ; Hemoglobins/metabolism ; Human ; Infant, Newborn ; Reticulocytes ; Syphilis, Congenital/blood*

Determination of the immunoglobulin M(IgM) in umbilical cord sera has been advocated as a screening test for intrauterine infection, since the IgM is produced by the fetus and is not transported across the placenta from mother. The low level of IgM in normal neonate is thought to reflect the infrequent encounter of antigenic stimuli by the futus, upon exposure to an appropriate antigen, however, the fetus is capable of increased IgM production, as has been doucumented in infant with rubella syndrome, cytomegalic inclusion disease, toxoplasmosis and syphilis. But until now we don't have the normal value of cord serum IgM in Korean neonate yet. So we performed the study to determine the normal value of serum IgM in Korean neonate and further more we try to compare the value of other condition such as congenital syphilis, maternal infection during pregnancy other than syphilis and congenital anomalies. Results were as followes: 1. Normal value of cord Igm was 11.83+/-9.92 mg % 2. There was no sexual difference 3. Lowest levele were noted at small weight(2500 gm upwards arrow) and short gestation period(28 wk upwards arrow) but not significant thereafter 4. There was no difference by matenal age and socioeconomic status 5. In congenital syphilis there was significant increment of cord IgM compared with normal group 6. There was no significant increment of cord ISM in cogenital anomalies 7. After 6 months, IgM levels were increased to adult level.
Adult ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; Fetal Blood ; Fetus ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M* ; Immunoglobulins* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening ; Mothers ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Reference Values ; Rubella ; Social Class ; Syphilis ; Syphilis, Congenital ; Toxoplasmosis ; Umbilical Cord

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence and principal rules of women with syphilis during pregnancy and to develop relative methods to prevent maternal-fetal transmission.

METHODSA nested case control study on epidemiologic research was used based on review and preview methods on prevention and cure. Targeting pregnant women with syphilis diagnosed during premarital or pregnancy stages and were identified through rapid plasma reagin test (RPR) but confirmed by treponema pallidum test (TP),a total number of 339 women receiving treatment, intervention and being followed throughout the pregnant and neonatal periods.

RESULTSThe prevalence of syphilis in pregnancy was 2.33%, and the positive rate in neonatal cord blood was closely associated with the opportunity of getting maternal treatment. The lowest RPR positive rate was among these women who got pregnant after receiving the treatment. The RPR positive rate of neonatal cord blood was positively relative to the mother's RPR titer. The higher was the mother's blood RPR titer, the worse the prenatal prognosis would turn to.

CONCLUSIONMother's blood RPR titer and the opportunity of getting treatment were strongly associated with the positive rate in neonatal cord blood. Pregnancy after receiving the treatment was a powerful measure to prevent the maternal-fetal transmission of syphilis.

Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; prevention & control ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; drug therapy ; Syphilis ; drug therapy ; Syphilis, Congenital ; prevention & control

We took clinical observation for low-birth-weight infant who had been delivered at Chosun University Hospital during the last 4 years from July, 1972 to June, 1976. The results obtained were as follows; 1) High incidence of low-birth-weight infant was found in group of gestational period, 31-33 weeks and birth weith, 1501~1750 gm . and those were 16 cases. 2) The incidence of low-birth weitht infant was 8.4% and there was no different distribution between male and female. 3) Incidence of low-birth-weight infant by maternal age was in order of the group of 26-30 years old, the group of 20-25 years old and the group of 31-35 years old and the incidence by parity was higher in multiparity than in primiparity. 4) Incidence of low-birthpweight infant by the type of delivery was in order of normal vaginal delivery, breech delivery and C-section delivery. 5) Etiology of low-birth-weight infant was in order of multiple pregnancy, toxemia, placenta previa and abruptio placenta, premature repture of membrane and congenital syphilis. 6) Mortality rate by weight-gestational age was lower in the group of apprepriate for gestational age infant than in the group of small for gestational age infant and in the group of large for gestatonal age infant. 7) Higher mortality rate was noted in the group of lower birth weight infant, the group of more shortened gestational period and the group of lower Apgar score. 8) Incidence of twin was 11.4% and death was noted only 1 case in male group. 9) In the respect of physiologic weight loss, an average maximal weight loss 9.3% of birth weitht and average maximal weight loss was appeared on 8th day after birth and the duration of returning to the birth weight was 13.5 days. 10) Average body measurements at birth were as follows: head circumference, 30.5cm, length, 43.9cm, and chest circumference, 27.7 cm and there was tendency of lower value of body measurements in the group of lower birth weight. 11) In the chest x-ray which was taken within 12 hours after normal finding was 98 cases (81.0%), hyaline membrane disease. 7(5.8%), atelectasis, 6(5.0%), congenital heart disease, 2(1.7%) and 1 case (0.8%) of pneumothorax. 12) In the peripheral blood cell count, there was higher value of Hb, RBC and Hct in the group of higher weight, but this proportional relationship was not found in WBC count.
Apgar Score ; Birth Weight ; Blood Cell Count ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Head ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Hyaline Membrane Disease ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Low Birth Weight* ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Membranes ; Mortality ; Parity ; Parturition ; Placenta ; Placenta Previa ; Pneumothorax ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Multiple ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Syphilis, Congenital ; Thorax ; Toxemia ; Weight Loss

Behcet? disease is a recurring illness characterized by the triple symptom complex of aphthous stomatitis, genital ulceration, and uveitis. The disease is multisystemic disorder with involvement of skin, gastrointestinal tract, blood vessels, central nervous system, joints, and epididymis. Vascular involvement of Behcet? disease affects both arteries and veins and blood vessels of all sizes. Periosteal new bone formation is one feature of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. Other features are clubbing and arthritis. Periosteal new bone formation on the bones of the lower extremities without other features of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy has been reported in patients with varicose veins, vitamin A intoxication, infantile cortical hyperostosis, tuberous sclerosis, congenital syphilis and chronic renal failure with hyperparathyroidism, and chronic venous insufficiency. However, periosteal new bone formation has not, to our knowledge, been described in patients with Behcet? disease yet although similar findings are occasionally noted in polyarteritis nodosa. We report a case of Behcet? disease complicated by leg swelling with periosteal new bone formation of right lower leg.
Arteries ; Arthritis ; Behcet Syndrome ; Blood Vessels ; Central Nervous System ; Epididymis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Hyperostosis, Cortical, Congenital ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Joints ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Osteogenesis* ; Polyarteritis Nodosa ; Skin ; Stomatitis, Aphthous ; Syphilis, Congenital ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; Ulcer ; Uveitis ; Varicose Veins ; Veins ; Venous Insufficiency ; Vitamin A