1988 Volume 79 Issue 8 Pages 1442-1447
For the assessment of the pathogenetic role of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) in prostatitis, we surveyed 128 patients with prostatitis. Chlamydial organisms were examined by the direct immunofluorescence antibody technique (DIF) using Micro Trak and isolation in cell cultures. Serum antibodies were also examined by means of the microplate immunofluorescence antibody technique using L2/434/Bu as antigen.
The results are summarized as follows:
1) C. trachomatis was detected in 7 cases (22.6%) out of 31 cases with prostatitis, and all cases proved antigen were chronic nonbacterial prostatitis. Positive rates of serum antibodies were 8.6% for IgM, 14.0% for IgA and 46.9% for IgG in all cases, and 8.6% for IgM, 13.3% for IgA and 46.7% for IgG in 105 cases with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, respectively.
2) Changes of antibody titers in pair sera examined in 10 cases with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis till 5 months (at the longest). The number of the cases that range of antibodies indicated changes over than 4 times as much were IgM in 2 cases, IgA in 2 cases and IgG in 4 cases. Of five cases in 10 cases, antibody titers in the paired sera changed more than 4 times.
3) In 7 patients with positive antigen, the average age was 43.1 years (the range was 29-54). The serum antibody were positive in 2 cases of IgM, one case of IgA and 4 cases of IgG. Pyuria was recoginized in 3 cases, and the bacteria to cause prostatitis were not proved in all cases.
4) The proportion between C. trachomatis infections and chronic nonbacterial prostatitis was examined. The cases showing positive antigen, IgM antibody and/or IgA antibody were diagnosed as overt C. trachomatis infection. Of 36 cases (34.3%) in 105 cases with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis seemed to have C. trachomatis infection. It was thought that C. trachomatis was one of the predominant pathogens for chronic nonbacterial prostatitis.
