[Occurrence of lupus-type circulating anticoagulant in syphilis (author's transl)]

Screening tests for circulating anticoagulant were performed systematically in fifteen patients with different stages of syphilis. The lupus-type anticoagulant, an inhibitor of the prothrombin activator complex, was demonstrated in one primary and three secondary stages, without any hemorrhagic complications. The possible relationship between the occurrence of this type of inhibitor and positive antilipoidal tests is discussed in reference to the well-known association of circulating anticoagulant and biologic false positive serologic tests for syphilis observed in patients with SLE.