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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
09:45
Procedures for In Vitro Cultivation of Treponema pallidum, the Syphilis Spirochete
Published on: January 24, 2025
Secondary syphilis occurring under anti-TNFalpha therapy.
Clarisse Bories-Haffner1, S Buche, Julien Paccou
1Département universitaire de rhumatologie, centre hospitalier et universitaire, université de Lille 2, 59037 Lille, France.
Joint Bone Spine
|May 11, 2010
Summary
Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapies effectively treat inflammatory arthritis but increase infection risk. This study documents a case of secondary syphilis developing during anti-TNFalpha treatment.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents are crucial for managing chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
- A known significant side effect of anti-TNF therapy is an increased susceptibility to infections.
Observation:
- This report details a specific case of secondary syphilis.
- The syphilis occurred in a patient undergoing anti-TNFalpha therapy.
Findings:
- The patient developed secondary syphilis while receiving anti-TNFalpha treatment.
- This highlights a potential, albeit rare, infectious complication associated with these immunomodulatory drugs.
Implications:
- Clinicians should be vigilant for opportunistic infections, including syphilis, in patients treated with anti-TNF agents.
- This case underscores the importance of considering infection screening in patients presenting with new symptoms during anti-TNF therapy.
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