A new study from the University of British Columbia (Canada) indicates that gay and bisexual men who take antiretroviral drugs to treat an HIV infection would have an increased risk of catching syphilis. The drugs are said to increase susceptibility to the virus, which is why health authorities are seeing a sharp upsurge in the disease. number of syphilis cases for about fifteen years.
A real resurgence of the disease
Initially, the increase in the number of sexually transmitted infections was attributed to the change in behavior of gay and bisexual men: thanks to triple therapy, they have more sexual partners, which increases the risk of STIs. But it is not a simple outbreak of syphilis cases that they have been facing for 15 years but a real resurgence of the disease. They therefore imagined the possibility of a second risk factor, which would be the evolution of the immune system.
“Overall, the results of our study suggest a possible link between triple therapy and an increased risk of certain infectious and non-infectious diseases. An unintended consequence that deserves further study.” say the researchers. “If further studies confirm this finding, it will provide more reason to promote diagnosis, screening and treatment. STIs in men on treatment for HIV “.
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