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What Does My Titer Ratio Numbers Indicate?
Question: I was diagnosed with syphilis in December, and have had three treatment courses 2.4 million units for three successive weeks. My titer ratio has gone from 1:2 to 1:8. Does this mean I'm improving, or is it getting worse?
Brief Answer:
represents increase/possible worsening but it is a very very early check
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
This means that there is worsening. It means that there is a 4 times or 4 fold increase in the titre which means that no response as yet.
Normally rechecked at least 6 months after the treatment so if you only had the medication a few weeks ago, it may be a little early to recheck unless there is a specific reason.
There are different stages/ types of syphilis.
Titres are suppose to decline 4 fold within 6 months of treatment of primary (when have the initial ulcer) or secondary syphilis (when have a wide range of different symptoms) and by 12 to 24 months after starting treatment of latent (no symptoms at all only found on blood tests) or late syphilis (spread to different organs).
It is possible ,since the check was done a little early that there has not been enough time for a response but you may want to discuss this with your doctor.
There are alternative medications if this is not effective for you.
I hope this helps,feel free to ask any other questions
represents increase/possible worsening but it is a very very early check
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
This means that there is worsening. It means that there is a 4 times or 4 fold increase in the titre which means that no response as yet.
Normally rechecked at least 6 months after the treatment so if you only had the medication a few weeks ago, it may be a little early to recheck unless there is a specific reason.
There are different stages/ types of syphilis.
Titres are suppose to decline 4 fold within 6 months of treatment of primary (when have the initial ulcer) or secondary syphilis (when have a wide range of different symptoms) and by 12 to 24 months after starting treatment of latent (no symptoms at all only found on blood tests) or late syphilis (spread to different organs).
It is possible ,since the check was done a little early that there has not been enough time for a response but you may want to discuss this with your doctor.
There are alternative medications if this is not effective for you.
I hope this helps,feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks you for your response. I've had absolutely no symptons (no rashes, no sores, etc. etc.). You mentioned possible alternative treatments. I'm under the care of a specialist in Mexico, where I live. He seems knowledgable and well-informed. But if the injections he's ordering for me aren't working, I'd like to at least mention these alternative treatments to him to see what he thinks. What alternative treatments might be indicated?
Brief Answer:
re testing needs to be considered at 6 months
Detailed Answer:
HI
The penicillin injections are the most common method of treatment this is why this would have been initially suggested
Other treatment regimens are doxycycline and tetracycline. Cetriaxone can also be used but its effectiveness is not clear
It is important to remember that re testing is normally done at 6 months, so if yours was done earlier then you may not have an accurate picture as yet of your response.
It would need to repeated at the 6 months mark
Please feel free to ask any thing else
re testing needs to be considered at 6 months
Detailed Answer:
HI
The penicillin injections are the most common method of treatment this is why this would have been initially suggested
Other treatment regimens are doxycycline and tetracycline. Cetriaxone can also be used but its effectiveness is not clear
It is important to remember that re testing is normally done at 6 months, so if yours was done earlier then you may not have an accurate picture as yet of your response.
It would need to repeated at the 6 months mark
Please feel free to ask any thing else
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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