Testing for 'threads' and leucocyte esterase in first-void urine to exclude the diagnosis of non-specific urethritis in asymptomatic men.
Recent evidence suggests that asymptomatic nonspecific urethritis (NSU), which is not routinely tested for, is a clinically significant pathology.The aim of this pilot study was to determine if testing for urinary threads, leucocyte esterase (LE) or both in asymptomatic men is a good screening tool for NSU. Of the126 asymptomatic men, 8% met microscopic criteria for the diagnosis of NSU. The positive predictive value for NSU was 71% (95% confidence interval (CI): 29.3-95.5%) and the negative predictive value was 96% (95% CI: 92.8-99.5%). The absence of threads and negative LE makes urethritis highly unlikely, making urinary chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) and gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) testing sufficient. Incidental findings of further pathology occurred in 7%.
Department of GU Medicine, Clinic 1 A, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
Sanjeeva N S
SN
Pallawela
Department of GU Medicine, Clinic 1 A, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
Christopher
C
Sonnex
Department of GU Medicine, Clinic 1 A, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
Julia
J
Burdett
Department of GU Medicine, Clinic 1 A, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
Dawn
D
Cooper
Department of GU Medicine, Clinic 1 A, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
Katrina
K
Nethercott
Department of GU Medicine, Clinic 1 A, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
Catherina M
CM
Thomas
Department of GU Medicine, Clinic 1 A, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
Peter
P
Goon
Department of GU Medicine, Clinic 1 A, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
Hayley
H
Webb
Department of GU Medicine, Clinic 1 A, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK.
Christopher
C
Carne