Elevated IL-10 serum levels are associated with slower serological response following syphilis treatment during pregnancy
Open accessAbstract
Background: Approximately 50% of pregnant individuals treated for syphilis do not achieve a decline in non-treponemal titers by delivery. The serological response in pregnant persons is significantly slower compared to non-pregnant individuals, with unclear pathogenesis and clinical significance. This study aimed to determine the association between the host immune response and serological outcome in pregnant individuals with syphilis. Methods: Twenty-four females with early syphilis, including 14 pregnant individuals, were included. Pro-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-1β, IL-10, TGF-β) were measured before treatment and 6 months after penicillin injection. Results: The median time to serological cure was 5 months for pregnant individuals and 2 months for non-pregnant females. Pregnant individuals had significantly higher serum levels of IL-10 and TGF-β at baseline and at 6 months post-treatment compared to non-pregnant individuals ( p < .05). Conclusions: A robust regulatory immune response to syphilis may be associated with a slower serological response to therapy during pregnancy.
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A recent study showed a slower reduction of non-treponemal test titer among pregnant women.
“It is important to note that a recent study showed a slower reduction of non‐treponemal test titer among pregnant women. 50”
From Syphilis in pregnancy: A practical guide for prenatal care providers (2025) · cites this paper as [50]
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Syphilis in pregnancy: A practical guide for prenatal care providers
Desjardins, A. A., Amaral, E., Miranda, J., Pasupathy, D., Martins, M. L., Buga, E., Aronoff, D., Money, D., Boucoiran, I., & FIGO Committee on Infections During Pregnancy and FIGO Committee on Health Systems Strengthening (2025) · International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics · doi:10.1002/ijgo.70511 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
- Authors
- Kiolbasa, M., Kotlarz, A., Kaminiów, K., & Pastuszczak, M.
- Affiliations
- Clinical Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland
- Jagiellonian University (PL)
- Medical University of Silesia (PL)
- Corresponding author
- Pastuszczak, Maciej
- Venue
- International Journal of STD & AIDS
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2024-12-03
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 11-12
- Pages
- 879-884
- ISSN
- 0956-4624 (ISSN-L)
- 1758-1052
- OpenAlex
- W4404984332
- Cited by
- 2
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2
- FWCI
- 0.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- ruj.uj.edu.pl
- Licence
- Locations
- International Journal of STD & AIDS (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Jagiellonian University Repository (Jagiellonian University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment
- Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Historical Medical Research and Treatments
- Keywords
- syphilis, pregnancy, IL-10, TGF-beta, serological response, penicillin therapy, regulatory cytokines, host immune response, early syphilis
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Antibodies, Bacterial, Female, Humans, Penicillins, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious, Syphilis, Syphilis Serodiagnosis, Treponema pallidum, Cytokines, Transforming Growth Factor beta, Interleukin-10, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult
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