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Sarah A. Rawstron, MB, BS; Kenneth Bromberg, MD

Am J Dis Child. 1991;145(12):1383-1388.

Abstract
• Objective.
—To compare the cord blood, newborn serum, and maternal serum for the diagnosis of congenital syphilis.

Design.
—Retrospective chart review.

Setting.
—Kings County Hospital Center, Brooklyn, NY.

Patients.
—Three hundred forty-eight mother-newborn pairs with positive syphilis serology.

Measurements and Results.
—One hundred fifteen newborns (33%) had rapid plasma reagin tests of cord blood that were nonreactive. Their mothers had positive serologic findings. There were 10% false-positive cord blood samples (cord blood rapid plasma reagin tests reactive, newborn serum rapid plasma reagin tests nonreactive) and 5% false-negative cord blood samples (cord rapid plasma reagin tests nonreactive, newborn serum rapid plasma reagin tests reactive). Thirty-three newborns had congenital syphilis. Seven newborns had cord titers fourfold higher than their mothers'; only four of these newborns had congenital syphilis. Maternal serology is superior to cord blood analysis for identifying newborns at risk of congenital syphilis.

(AJDC. 1991;145:1383-1388)

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Medical Center of Brooklyn (Kings County Hospital Center, and SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication July 22, 1991.

Reprint requests to the Department of Pediatrics, SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Box 49, 450 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11203 (Dr Rawstron).

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