Syphilis test, RPR
Rapid plasma reagin, a blood test for syphilis that looks for an antibody that is present in the bloodstream when a patient has syphilis.
A negative (nonreactive) RPR is compatible with a person not having syphilis, but in the early stages of the disease, the RPR often gives false negative results. Conversely, a false positive RPR can be encountered in infectious mononucleosis, lupus, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, hepatitis A, leprosy, malaria and, occasionally, pregnancy.
See also syphilis; syphilis test, VDRL.
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A blood test for syphilis (VDRL stands for Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) that detects an antibody that is present in the bloodstream when a patient has syphilis. A negative (nonreactive) VDRL is compatible with a person not having syphilis, but in the early stages of the disease, the VDRL often gives false negative results. Conversely, […]
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Infection of a fetus or newborn with syphilis. Syphilis in a fetus can cause deformity, particularly of the long bones, or death. Syphilis infection acquired at birth is also dangerous. See also TORCH infection.
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The third stage of syphilis, in which the syphilis spirochetes infect the brain, heart, and other organs of the body. Dementia is a common outcome. Tertiary syphilis can develop many years after an initial untreated infection. The spirochetes can cause extensive damage in the body, sometimes leading to death.
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1. Relating to syphilis, caused by it, or suffering from it. 2. A person with syphilis. From the French syphilitique.
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A benign (noncancerous) skin tumor that derives from eccrine cells, specialized cells related to sweat glands. The skin lesions of syringoma usually appear during puberty or adult life, and consist of small bumps 1 to 3 mm in diameter that form under the surface of the skin. The most frequent site is the eyelids and […]