An epidemic of syphilis among homosexuals and bisexuals

22 cases of syphilis were diagnosed in the last part of 1982 in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology. Out of them 21 were male cases and 16 were homo- or bisexuals. Most cases were in the secondary stage and Herxheimer reaction only developed in these. Serological titers to both lipoidal and treponemal antigens were extremely high. All bisexual males were positive in herpes and CMV complement fixation test. Two of the homosexuals appeared with iridocyclitis and motile treponemes were isolated from the anterior chamber in one case.