Chronic prostatitis, chlamydia trachomatis and infertility.
Seventy-one infertile men were studied for the presence of seminal leucocytosis, and for the levels of acid phosphatase activity and Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies of IgA class using a novel method of solid-phase radioimmunoassay. The findings were compared with those of 56 fertile men. Chlamydial IgA antibodies were found in the semen of 51.1% of infertile men with seminal leucocytosis and decreased seminal acid phosphatase activity, i.e. those defined as having asymptomatic chronic prostatitis. This frequency was significantly higher than among fertile men (23.2%, P less than 0.01) and those infertile men who had no signs of chronic prostatitis (26.9%, P less than 0.05). It is concluded that Chlamydia trachomatis seems to be a common cause of prostatitis and may also interfere with fertility.
D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis*; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology; D013073:Sperm Agglutination
D007070:Immunoglobulin A