γm-Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody in the Diagnosis of Congenital Syphilis

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Abstract
A comparative study of γM-fluorescent treponemal antibody (γM-FTA-ABS), routine FTA-ABS and γG-FTA-ABS, Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) antibody levels, as well as total serum γM globulin amounts, in eight infants with different clinical forms of congenital syphilis indicated that a newly developed γM-FTA-ABS test is superior for early diagnosis of congenital syphilis whether specific antibody production is initiated in utero or postnatally. The usefulness of this test is emphasized by the fact that γM-FTA-ABS was detected in neonates and infants who were asymptomatic while other serologic tests gave inconclusive results. During the early phase of infection, as observed in late-onset disease, γM-FTA-ABS appeared and total serum γM globulin became elevated while VDRL antibody levels remained stable. Thereafter, all these measurements as well as routine FTA-ABS rose in parallel to reach high levels with the onset of symptoms and all likewise decreased after successful therapy.

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