Syphilis Infection in Pregnant Women with inadequate prenatal care: A Comprehensive Review of Reported Cases in Japan

Abstract

 Objectives: The prognosis for newborns affected by syphilis is often inadequate due to delays in diagnosis and treatment in the cases of pregnant women with inadequate perinatal care. The number of pregnancies complicated by syphilis, as well as cases of congenital syphilis, has been rapidly increasing in Japan. Therefore, a comprehensive examinations of the clinical characteristics and perinatal prognosis of pregnant women with inadequate perinatal care complicated syphilis infection is essential.

 Methods: We conducted a literature review of domestic reports published in the past 10 years and identified 30 cases of syphilis-associated pregnancies with inadequate prenatal care, including 21 cases of congenital syphilis. Clinical characteristics were analyzed.

 Results: The mean maternal age was 23.4 years, with 60% of patients engaged in the sex industry. In 53% of cases, delivery occurred within a few days of the initial visit, and the cesarean section rate was 40%. The mean birth weight was 1,977 g, and the preterm birth rate was 64%. A comparison between cases with and without congenital syphilis revealed no significant differences in maternal background.

 Conclusion: Pregnant women with inadequate perinatal care and syphilis were predominantly young individuals engaged in the sex industry. The perinatal prognosis was inadequate, with two-thirds of cases involving preterm birth and low birth weight.