The prozone phenomenon in secondary syphilis

Abstract

We describe a 37-year-old woman with secondary syphilis, in whom tile prozone phenomenon (false-negative test in undiluted specimens) occurred. The patient had been maintained on cyclosporine and prednisolone after renal transplantation. B-cell dysfunction induced by continuous immunosuppression may lead to higher non-treponemal serological titers. Non-treponemal testing should be repeated using serum dilutions to prevent missing the diagnosis of syphilis.