Role of Chlamydia trachomatis in non-acute prostatitis.

Abstract

The possible role of C. trachomatis in non-acute prostatitis was investigated by cultural and serological techniques in a study of 53 adult males. C. trachomatis was isolated from the urethra of only 1 of the 53 patients and from none of the 28 specimens of prostatic fluid from the same patients. By means of a modified microimmunofluorescent test, serum chlamydial Ig[immunoglobulin]G antibodies at a titer of 1/64 or greater, or IgM antibodies at a titer of 1/8 or greater, or both were detected in 6 of the patients, suggesting a recent or current chlamydial infection, while IgG or IgA antibodies at a titer of 1/8 or greater were detected in the specimens of prostatic fluid from 2 of the 28 men studied. In the 7 patients with evidence of chlamydial infection and in a further 13 of the 53 patients studied, the presenting symptoms suggested non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) rather than prostatitis. C. trachomatis would appear to play a minor etiological role, if any, in non-acute prostatitis.