[Modern serological diagnosis of syphilis (author's transl)].

After discussion of the antigen structure of Treponema pallidum it is shown that only reactions with the pallidum antigen can establish a serological diagnosis of syphilis. Reactions with Reiter antigen are superfluous, reactions with lipoid antigen (cardiolipin) are non-specific and not very sensitive and consequently only conditionally useful as a test reaction. The behavior of the Treponema and lipoid antigen reactions is different in the various stages of lues, and consequently permits certain conclusions to be drawn from the reaction pattern on the stage of lues present or on the therapeutic success by quantitative longitudinal assessment. The special conditions in the cerebrospinal fluid are discussed.