Genital ulcers: etiology, clinical diagnosis, and associated human immunodeficiency virus infection in Kingston, Jamaica

Individuals presenting consecutively with genital ulcers in Kingston, Jamaica, underwent serological testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, chlamydial infection, and syphilis. Ulcer material was analyzed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) analysis. DNA from herpes simplex virus (HSV), Haemophilus ducreyi, and Treponema pallidum was detected in 158 (52.0%), 72 (23.7%), and 31 (10.2%) of 304 ulcer specimens. Of the 304 subjects, 67 (22%) were HIV-seropositive and 64 (21%) were T. pallidum-seroreactive. Granuloma inguinale was clinically diagnosed in nine (13.4%) of 67 ulcers negative by M-PCR analysis and in 12 (5.1%) of 237 ulcers positive by M-PCR analysis (P = .03). Lymphogranuloma venereum was clinically diagnosed in eight patients. Compared with M-PCR analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of a clinical diagnosis of syphilis, herpes, and chancroid were 67.7%, 53.8%, and 75% and 91.2%, 83.6%, and 75.4%, respectively. Reactive syphilis serology was 74% sensitive and 85% specific compared with M-PCR analysis. Reported contact with a prostitute in the preceding 3 months was associated with chancroid (P = .009), reactive syphilis serology (P = .011), and HIV infection (P = .007). The relatively poor accuracy of clinical and locally available laboratory diagnoses pleads for syndromic management of genital ulcers in Jamaica. Prevention efforts should be intensified.

Lymphogranuloma venereum presenting as a rectovaginal fistula

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a rare form of the sexually transmitted disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. In the United States, there are fewer than 350 cases per year. In a review of the world's literature, there has not been a case reported in the last thirty years of a case of LGV presenting as a rectovaginal fistula. We present a case of an otherwise healthy American woman who presented with a rectovaginal fistula. Although uncommon, LGV does occur in developed countries and may have devastating tissue destruction if not recognized and treated before the tertiary stage.

Lymphogranuloma venereum presenting as a rectovaginal fistula

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a rare form of the sexually transmitted disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. In the United States, there are fewer than 350 cases per year. In a review of the world's literature, there has not been a case reported in the last thirty years of a case of LGV presenting as a rectovaginal fistula. We present a case of an otherwise healthy American woman who presented with a rectovaginal fistula. Although uncommon, LGV does occur in developed countries and may have devastating tissue destruction if not recognized and treated before the tertiary stage.

[Report pf the first case of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in an HIV seropositive patient in Cuba]

The most important clinical and epidemiological aspects of the lymphogranuloma venereum as a sexually-transmitted disease are described. We present a summary of the clinical history of an HIV-positive patient who presented with a tumoral lesion in the inguinal region presumptive of lymphogranuloma venereum. The diagnostic value of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for the establishment of an accurate diagnosis is stressed the epidemiological importance of the report of this sexually-transmitted disease in an HIV-positive patient for the first time in Cuba is also pointed out. A good response was attained with Doxycycline.

Lymphogranuloma venereum as a cause of rectal strictures

Rectal strictures are uncommon in young patients without a history of malignancy, inflammatory bowel disease or previous surgery. Lymphogranuloma venereum of the rectum has been described as a rare cause of rectal strictures in the western world, mainly in homosexual men and in blacks. It presents with nonspecific symptoms, rectal ulcer, proctitis, anal fissures, abscesses and rectal strictures. Clinical and endoscopic findings as well as histology resemble Crohn's disease, which may be misdiagnosed. Serology is often positive for Chlamydia trachomatis but negative serology is not uncommon. We present two young black women who suffered from chronic diarrhoea, abdominal pain and weight loss. There was no previous history and investigations showed in both cases a long rectal stricture. Serology was positive in one patient. They were treated with erythromycin and azithromycin and they both underwent an anterior resection of the rectum. Postoperative histology confirmed the presence of lymphogranuloma venereum of the rectum. We conclude that rectal lymphogranuloma venereum is a rare cause of rectal strictures but surgeons should be aware of its existence and include it in the differential diagnosis of unexplained strictures in high-risk patients.

Complicated anorectal sepsis

These complex anorectal conditions are difficult to diagnose because clinical features overlap. In general, an aggressive approach is reserved for hidradenitis suppurativa and necrotizing infections. Patients with Crohn's disease, hematologic disorders, or AIDS are often treated more conservatively, but the correct timing and degree of aggressiveness of surgical intervention may considerably improve the overall outcome. The increasing incidence of AIDS and the frequency with which infected patients present to surgical clinics make it imperative that all surgeons have a working knowledge of the conditions associated with this syndrome. Expertise is required not only to diagnose and treat these conditions but also to protect oneself and others from being inadvertently infected with the HIV. A high index of suspicion and constant vigilance permit the successful resolution of many of these challenging problems.

Trends in the acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases among HIV-positive patients at STD clinics, Miami 1988-1992

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

To assess trends in the acquisition of new sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among patients who test positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at STD clinics.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohorts of HIV-positive and HIV-negative persons were compared using computerized records from Miami STD clinics for 1988-1992. Persons were assigned to cohorts according to their first positive or first negative HIV test results. New STDs were defined if persons had new diagnoses of gonorrhea, primary or secondary syphilis, chancroid, or lymphogranuloma venereum; were undergoing treatment as contacts for syphilis or gonorrhea; or were undergoing epidemiologic treatment for syphilis or gonorrhea.

RESULTS

Of the 103,549 persons who visited the clinics, 53,467 were tested for HIV, and 5,615 had results that were positive. The percentages returning with new STDs were similar for the HIV-positive and HIV-negative cohorts, and both decreased over time. For the 1988 cohorts, 26% of those testing positive and 30% of those testing negative for HIV returned with at least one STD within 5 years. Returns with STD within 1 year decreased from 16% in 1988 to 3% in 1992.

CONCLUSIONS

Returns decreased dramatically among HIV-positive cohorts; however, there were similar decreases of new STDs among HIV-negative cohorts, so the decrease may have been caused by the decreasing prevalence of bacterial STD in the community rather than by behavioral changes among HIV-positive persons.

Genital ulcer disease in patients attending a public sexually transmitted disease clinic in Singapore: an epidemiologic study

Genital ulcer disease forms about 10% of all sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Singapore. In this retrospective study of 531 cases of genital ulcer disease presenting at the Department of STD Control, 91.6% were due to venereal causes and 8.4% were due to non-venereal causes. The venereal causes of genital ulcers were found to be genital herpes (71.5%), chancroid (15.8%), primary syphilis (3.4%) and lymphogranuloma venereum (1%). The non-venereal causes were mainly trauma, drug eruptions or were non-specific in nature. The peak incidence in both sexes occurred in the 20-39 year age group. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 5.8:1. The ethnic distribution showed an under-representation of Malays relative to the racial makeup of the general population, reflecting perhaps a protective effect conferred by circumcision from genital ulcer diseases or a lower health-risk sexual behaviour in this ethnic group. The accuracy of initial clinical diagnosis was low indicating the need for laboratory investigations to establish accurate aetiologic diagnosis. Commercial sex workers were the main source of infection in males, highlighting the continued need to educate, screen and effectively treat this high risk group.

Rectal lymphogranuloma venereum in association with rectal adenocarcinoma

Rectal involvement in lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is more common in women. Inguinal bubo is often absent and the patient seeks medical attention only at a late stage when rectal stricture has developed. LGV rectal stricture resembles and is known to predispose to rectal cancer. Hence it is necessary to rule out rectal malignancy in patients with LGV stricture. We report a case of rectal LGV associated with rectal adenocarcinoma.

Mucocutaneous manifestations of chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum and granuloma inguinale

The sexually transmitted diseases chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum and granuloma inguinale should be familiar to physicians who care for patients at risk. The mucocutaneous manifestations of these three diseases must be distinguished from the lesions of other venereal diseases, such as primary syphilis and genital herpes simplex. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection should always be considered in patients with any venereal disease, since sexually transmitted diseases often occur together. Furthermore, the genital erosions that occur in patients with these three disorders may predispose them to HIV infection.

Clinical course of cervical human papillomavirus lesions in relation to coexistent cervical infections

A prospective follow-up of 530 women with cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) infection was conducted from 1981 to the present (mean 62.9 months). The patients were examined by PAP smears and colposcopy with or without biopsies every sixth month. Endocervical swabs were taken for culture of cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and Chlamydia trachomatis at each visit. During the follow-up period, 179 of the 530 patients (33.8%) had cervical infection and 351 (66.2%) had no coexistent cervicitis. On average, the patients with coexistent cervicitis were younger than those without cervicitis (32 +/- 7.2 years and 37.1 +/- 11.4 years, respectively; P less than 0.0001). C. Trachomatis was isolated from 95 of the 530 women (17.9%), and 19 of the patients had chlamydial cervicitis twice. Cytomegalovirus was isolated from 27 (5.1%) women, 2 of whom also had HSV, and 12 patients had a chlamydial infection. Herpes simplex virus was isolated from 11 (2.1%) women, including 2 patients with coexistent CMV infection. A total of 60 (1.3%) women had nonspecific cervicitis. Of the HPV lesions without coexistent cervical infection, 56.7% regressed, 24.5% persisted, 16.5% progressed, and recurrence was found in 2.3%. The corresponding figures for HPV lesions with coexistent cervicitis were as follows: 66.5%, 22.9%, 9.5%, and 1.1%, respectively. Coexistent active cervical infections had no influence on the clinical course of HPV lesions.

Syphilis serology in patients with primary syphilis and non-treponemal sexually transmitted diseases in southern Africa

The reactivity of a non-specific reagin (RPR) test and a specific treponemal (FTA-ABS) test were determined in 21 patients with primary syphilis, 430 patients with proven non-treponemal genital ulcerations and 719 patients with acute urethritis presenting at a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases in southern Africa. Excluding those 21 cases of primary syphilis, 358 of 1149 tests performed (31%) were found to be reactive by at least one test. The rate of false positive RPR tests was very low (0.02%). Significantly higher rates of seropositivity were detected in patients with genital ulcerations than in patients with acute urethritis. The highest rates were detected among patients with proven lymphogranuloma venereum (34% RPR positive, FTA-ABS positive; 19% RPR negative, FTA-ABS positive). The geometric mean titres (GMT) of positive RPR tests in non-treponemal infections were found to be lower than in darkfield positive cases of genital ulcer disease.

A 2-year quantitative assessment of Chlamydia trachomatis in a sexually transmitted diseases clinic population by the MicroTrak direct smear immunofluorescence test

The MicroTrak direct smear immunofluorescence test was used to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis elementary bodies (EBs) in groups of patients in various clinical categories, most of whom were seen in a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Overall, 8138 adequate specimens were tested, of which 14.3% were found to contain chlamydial EBs. Of the samples from patients seen in the STD clinic, over 70% were from women and 14.9% of these were positive, as were 15.7% of those from men. EBs were detected in 27% of samples from infants and in 7.0% of those from adults with conjunctivitis. EBs were detected most often in men with nongonococcal urethritis (40.2%), infants with conjunctivitis (30%) and contacts of chlamydiae-positive patients (24.5%) and least often in 'prostatitis' (2.9%) and patients tested to determine the success of treatment (2.7%). Over 40% of samples from both the male urethra and the cervix contained 10 or fewer EBs, highlighting the importance of recognizing small numbers and the sensitivity required of other detection procedures.

Supralevator abscess due to chronic rectal lymphogranuloma venereum

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) usually manifests as an inguinal syndrome, but it can also cause an anorectal syndrome that is difficult to diagnose because of its similarity to other disorders, the lack of easily available specific laboratory tests, and an assumption that it occurs only in women or homosexual men. LGV proctitis is often mild, but chronic cases can have serious complications. We describe a heterosexual Vietnamese man with a rectal stricture and supralevator abscess due to LGV proctitis whose presentation mimicked that of rectal cancer.

Lymphogranuloma venereum: 27 cases in Paris

Twenty-seven men with laboratory-confirmed lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) were identified among 211 patients tested for LGV or chancroid during a 6-y period. The patients with LGV ranged in age from 17 to 73 y; most were from countries other than France. Twenty-five sought care because of inguinal adenopathy (with spontaneous draining fistulae in two patients) and two because of proctitis. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from nine patients; all isolates were the LGV biovar as demonstrated by biologic characterization and monoclonal antibody reactivity. In patients without isolation of C. trachomatis, the diagnosis was based on chlamydial complement fixation antibody titers greater than or equal to 1:32 (mean titer, 1:128). Genital herpes was an associated diagnosis in one patient and syphilis in two patients. Serologic evidence of exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 was present in five patients and to HIV-2 in one patient.

Lymphogranuloma venereum conjunctivitis with a marginal corneal perforation

The authors have recently treated a case of Parinaud's oculoglandular syndrome due to Chlamydia trachomatis serotype L2, a causative agent of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). The ocular manifestations included a mixed papillary-follicular conjunctivitis with fleshy superior limbal lesions in both eyes. A superior marginal corneal perforation requiring a therapeutic corneal graft was present in the right eye. The patient had vaginitis, inguinal lymphadenopathy, a history of Sjögren's syndrome, and seropositivity to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The ocular disease resolved completely after 6 weeks of oral tetracycline therapy.

Sexual practices, sexually transmitted diseases, and the incidence of anal cancer

To elucidate the risk factors for anal cancer, we interviewed and obtained blood specimens from 148 persons with anal cancer and from 166 controls with colon cancer in whom these diseases were diagnosed during 1978-1985. We found that in men, a history of receptive anal intercourse (related to homosexual behavior) was strongly associated with the occurrence of anal cancer (relative risk, 33.1; 95 percent confidence interval, 4.0 to 272.1). Anal intercourse was only weakly associated with the risk of anal cancer in women (relative risk, 1.8; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.7 to 4.2). Among the subjects with squamous-cell anal cancer, 47.1 percent of homosexual men, 28.6 percent of heterosexual men, and 28.3 percent of women gave a history of genital warts, as compared with only 1 to 2 percent of controls and no patients with transitional-cell anal cancer. In patients without a history of warts, anal cancer was associated with a history of gonorrhea in heterosexual men (relative risk, 17.2; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.0 to 149.4) and with seropositivity for herpes simplex type 2 (relative risk, 4.1; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.9 to 8.8) and Chlamydia trachomatis (relative risk, 2.3; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.1 to 4.8) in women. Current cigarette smoking was a substantial risk factor in both women (relative risk, 7.7; 95 percent confidence interval, 3.5 to 17.2) and men (relative risk, 9.4; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.3 to 38.5). We conclude that homosexual behavior in men is a risk factor for anal cancer, and that squamous-cell anal cancer is also associated with a history of genital warts, an association suggesting that papillomavirus infection is a cause of anal cancer. Certain other genital infections and cigarette smoking are also associated with anal cancer.

Chlamydia trachomatis and reactive arthritis: the missing link

Reactive inflammatory arthritis is a common sequel to sexually acquired non-gonococcal genital-tract infection. Approximately 50% of cases are associated with Chlamydia trachomatis infection in the genital tract, although conventional cultures of joint material are sterile. Synovium, synovial-fluid cells, or both, from eight patients with sexually acquired reactive arthritis (SARA) and eight with knee effusions associated with other rheumatic diseases were examined by means of a fluorescein-labelled monoclonal antibody to C trachomatis ('Micro Trak'; Syva). Typical chlamydial elementary bodies were seen in joint material from five patients with SARA but in none of the controls. An inclusion-like cluster of elementary bodies was seen in one synovial biopsy sample. All five patients had high titres of serum chlamydial antibody. It is likely that the synovitis of SARA results directly from the presence of chlamydial elementary bodies in the joint.

Sexually transmitted diseases and tubal infertility

To evaluate the association of genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis with the occurrence of subsequent tubal infertility, 321 women who had tubal infertility were interviewed concerning their history of these sexually transmitted diseases (STD). The responses were compared to those of women who conceived children during the period the infertile women began trying to become pregnant. By a multivariate analysis, the comparisons were controlled for several confounding variables (e.g., use of an intrauterine device, cigarette smoking, number of prior pregnancies, number of sexual partners, and a history of the other STD). The risk of tubal infertility in women who reported at least one episode of gonorrhea after their last pregnancy, relative to that among other women, was 2.8 (95% confidence interval = 1.3-5.7). The relative risk of tubal infertility was also higher among women who reported a history of trichomoniasis (relative risk = 1.4; 95% confidence interval = 1.0-2.5) or genital warts (relative risk = 1.9; 95% confidence interval = 1.0-3.6).

Problematic ulcerative lesions in sexually transmitted diseases: surgical management

Chronic intractable ulcerative lesions, with or without lymphedema, are occasional sequelae of various sexually transmitted diseases that lead to gross morbidity. This study of 15 such cases, including seven of granuloma inguinale, four of lymphogranuloma venereum, three of confined lesions (granuloma inguinale and lymphogranuloma venereum), and one of sexually transmitted amebic ulcer of the penis, employed surgical procedures aimed at sound healing after a single-stage procedure. The surgical techniques included full skin cover by direct flaps, myocutaneous flaps, sliding flaps (floating island), and excision of the involved rectum (two cases). Nine lesions healed by primary intention, one by spontaneous contraction of the wound, and two needed limited secondary procedures. In view of the paucity of literature on the subject, an argument is made for identifying such cases and saving them from prolonged morbidity by a suitable single-stage surgical procedure.

Follicular proctocolitis and neuromatous hyperplasia with lymphogranuloma venereum

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), a sexually transmitted disease, is caused by certain immunotypes of Chlamydia trachomatis. Proctitis due to LGV may be histologically indistinguishable from Crohn's disease of the rectum, thereby creating a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. The pathologic features found at autopsy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 28 patients in whom LGV had been diagnosed clinically were reviewed, with the clinical features, to determine whether any of those features could be used to distinguish between LGV and Crohn's colitis. The results showed that although many of the pathologic findings in the intestines of subjects with LGV were similar to those observed in patients with Crohn's disease, the distribution of lesions in the colons of subjects with LGV was distinctly different from that observed in patients with Crohn's colitis. With LGV, the salient histopathologic lesions consisted of follicular lymphohistiocytic-plasma cell infiltrates in the submucosa, muscularis propria, and serosa; neuromatous hyperplasia in the submucosal and myenteric plexuses; and extensive thickening and fibrosis of the bowel wall. The rectum was uniformly involved by these processes and, in addition, had deep ulceration and fissuring, while more proximal segments of the colon were generally spared of severe chronic inflammation. Thus, the colonic lesions of LGV have a distal left-sided predominance, in contrast to the usual right-sided predominance with rectal sparing in Crohn's colitis.

Prevalence of chlamydial eye infection in patients attending an eye clinic, a VD clinic, and in healthy persons

Chlamydial eye infection was detected in 28 of 983 ophthalmological patients with conjunctivitis or keratoconjunctivitis, with a peak frequency of over 9% in patients aged 16-20 years and with decreasing frequency thereafter. In patients aged 1 to 15 years chlamydial conjunctivitis was not observed. Chlamydial eye infection could not be detected in patients at a venereal diseases clinic, though chlamydial genital infection was rather frequent in these patients. Nor was Chlamydia trachomatis found in the eyes of healthy young adults. In patients with proved chlamydial conjunctivitis unilateral symptoms were the rule. Pseudoptosis was the most conspicuous presentation in two cases. A prolonged course can be expected in chlamydial eye infection if the condition is unrecognised and effective treatment delayed. The venereal background of the condition must also influence the management.

Infectious antecedent of immunoblastic lymphoma. Progressive immunosuppression in a patient with lymphogranuloma venereum

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy is a nonmalignant disease of unknown etiology often progressing to immunoblastic lymphoma. Immunologic deficiency is evident in these patients as well as in those with various infections found in association with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This report describes a previously healthy young woman in whom angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy developed in association with lymphogranuloma venereum, with progressive loss of immunologic competence. This deterioration paralleled the evolution of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy into a rapidly fatal immunoblastic lymphoma.

[Role of eye manifestations in chlamydioses]

Following an up-to-date bacteriological resume, are recalled the most important clinical manifestations presently attributed to C. trachomatis: general manifestations (pulmonary, articular, venereal, congenital, viscereal and others still under discussion); ocular manifestations (trachoma, inclusion conjunctivitis of newborn infants or adults, other ocular affections still under discussion). The main theories are exposed, which try to explain some epidemiological links between all these manifestations.

Effect of treatment regimens for Neisseria gonorrhoeae on simultaneous infection with Chlamydia trachomatis

We evaluated the effect of treatment of gonorrhea on simultaneous Chlamydia trachomatis infection by randomly assigning 293 heterosexual men and 246 heterosexual women with gonorrhea to receive one of the following treatment regimens: (1) 4.8 million units of aqueous procaine penicillin plus 1 g of probenecid, (2) nine tablets of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole daily for three days, or (3) 500 mg of tetracycline four times a day for five days. Among the men, gonococcal infection was cured in 99 per cent given penicillin plus probenecid, 96 per cent given trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and 98 per cent given tetracycline. Among the women, only 90 per cent given tetracycline were cured, in contrast to 97 per cent given penicillin plus probenecid and 99 per cent given trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Chlamydial infection, present in 15 per cent of the men and 26 per cent of the women, was cured in 30 of 32 patients given trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 27 of 29 given tetracycline, but in only 10 of 23 given penicillin plus probenecid. Among chlamydia-positive patients, postgonococcal urethritis in men and cervicitis in women occurred more often in patients given penicillin plus probenecid. Salpingitis developed in 6 of 20 women given penicillin plus probenecid, but in only 1 of 26 given trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and in none of 24 given tetracycline. We conclude that the use of penicillin plus probenecid alone for gonorrhea in heterosexual patients carries an unacceptably high risk of postgonococcal chlamydial morbidity. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline were highly effective against both pathogens and were well tolerated in men, but both drugs caused frequent side effects in women. The failure of tetracycline to cure gonorrhea in 10 per cent of women argues against its use alone; treatment with penicillin followed by tetracycline has been recommended for further trial.

Hemorrhagic proctitis due to lymphogranuloma venereum serogroup L2. Diagnosis by fluorescent monoclonal antibody

Definitive diagnosis of lymphogranuloma venereum is impeded by difficulty in culturing the causative agent and by serologic cross-reactivity between Chlamydia trachomatis L1, L2, and L3, which can cause the disease, and the many other serotypes of C. trachomatis, which do not. In a 23-year-old man with massive rectal bleeding, an exudative rectal ulcer, and inguinal lymphadenopathy, serologic findings were compatible with a recent lymphogranuloma venereum infection, but stains and cultures of lymph-node aspirates were negative, and biopsy specimens of the rectum and lymph nodes showed only nonspecific inflammatory changes. A diagnosis of lymphogranuloma venereum was made when intracellular organisms and inclusion bodies were demonstrated in rectal submucosal tissue by fluorescein-tagged monoclonal antibodies directed against both chlamydial group antigens and L2 serotype antigen. This technique was of particular value in this patient because it specifically identified an unusual cause of severe gastrointestinal bleeding.

Etiology of genital ulcerations in Swaziland

The etiology of genital ulcer disease was determined among 155 consecutive new cases in Mbabane, Swaziland. In contrast to genital ulcerations in industrialized countries, chancroid was the most common diagnosis (44% of cases), as established on clinical grounds and by exclusion of other etiologies. Primary syphilis and genital herpes accounted for only 17% and 12% of the cases, respectively. Lymphogranuloma venereum was found in 13% of the patients, and in 15% of cases no diagnosis was made.

Radiographic findings of infectious proctitis in homosexual men

Homosexual men are known to have an increased incidence of sexually transmitted proctitis. A knowledge of the pathogenesis and the radiographic appearance of these processes has resulted in earlier diagnosis and more rapid institution of appropriate therapy. While gonococcus (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and lymphogranuloma venereum (usually Chlamydia) have long been considered the common etiologies of proctitis in this population, other organisms, such as herpes, Mycoplasma, and Entamoeba have been implicated and could give an identical radiographic and clinical pattern. Diffuse narrowing and ulceration limited to the rectum was seen in five affected homosexual men recently studied at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago.

Lymphogranuloma venereum and acute ulcerative proctitis

The lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) L2 serotype of Chlamydia trachomatis has been isolated from the rectums of three homosexual men with acute, primary ulcerative proctitis that responded to appropriate anti-chlamydial therapy. LGV is still present in the urban United States and must be considered in cases of acute ulcerative proctitis.

Chlamydial genital infections: manifestations and management

Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is an important cause of nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis, and may be the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Associated complications include epididymitis, proctitis, salpingitis, bartholinitis, arthritis, perihepatitis, and endocarditis. Perinatal transmission of infection may result in neonatal inclusion conjunctivitis and/or pneumonia of infancy. Chlamydial genital infection should be suspected in a patient (male or female) who presents with a gonorrhea-like syndrome but whose laboratory studies fail to demonstrate Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Such patients, together with their sex partners, should receive antichlamydial therapy; the uncomplicated genital infections respond well to oral treatment with tetracycline, erythromycin, and sulfonamide. The most important cause of treatment failure in nongonococcal urethritis is lack of simultaneous treatment of both patient and partner.

Confirmatory serodiagnosis of lymphogranuloma venereum proctitis may yield false-positive results due to other chlamydial infections of the rectum

Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from rectal swab specimens taken from six of 18 homosexual men with presumed lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) proctitis. All 18 men met standard serologic criteria for the diagnosis of LGV (complement-fixing antibody titer, greater than 1:16; microimmunofluorescent IgG antibody titer, greater than 1:1,000). However, four of the six chlamydial isolates were non-LGV strains of C. trachomatis. It is suggested that these strains may cause proctitis and result in the exuberant antibody response associated with LGV. Thus, serologic confirmation of LGV proctitis may be "false-positive" in the sense that it reflects other chlamydial infections.

Chronic proctitis in male homosexuals due to lymphogranuloma venereum

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) has been infrequently reported as a cause of proctitis. We report 3 homosexual men with chronic ulcerative proctitis which was cured after therapy for LGV. The complement fixation test for LGV was positive in 2 of the 3 patients.

Etiology, manifestations and therapy of acute epididymitis: prospective study of 50 cases

There were 50 patients with acute epididymitis who were evaluated prospectively by history, examination and microbiologic studies, including cultures for aerobes, anaerobes, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Escherichia coli was the predominant pathogen isolated from the urine of men more than 35 years old, while Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae were the predominant pathogens isolated from the urethra of men less than 35 years old. The etiologic role of Escherichia coli and Chlamydia trachomatis was confirmed by isolation from epididymal aspirates from a high proportion of men with positive urine or urethral cultures for these agents. Chlamydia trachomatis epididymitis accounted for two-thirds of idiopathic epididymitis in young men and often was associated with oligospermia. Of 9 female sexual partners of men with Chlamydia trachomatis infection 6 had antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis, of whom 2 had positive cervical cultures for this organism and 2 others had non-gonococcal pelvic inflammatory disease. Antibiotic therapy with tetracycline was effective for the treatment of men with Chlamydia trachomatis epididymitis and should be offered to the female sex partners.