Evaluation of roxithromycin in the treatment of non-gonococcal urethritis in males.

One-hundred and fifty-two male patients suffering from non-gonococcal urethritis were treated with an oral dosage of 300 mg roxithromycin daily for seven days. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from the urethra in 53 patients (35%), and Ureaplasma urealyticum in 42 patients (28%). After treatment, 49 (92%) of the 53 patients with positive Chlamydia trachomatis cultures and 34 (81%) of the 42 patients with positive Ureaplasma urealyticum cultures had negative cultures at follow-up. A clinical cure was observed in 137 patients (90%). Ten patients (7%) showed side effects consisting of nausea, sensation of distended abdomen, headache and fatigue. Seventy-eight male patients suffering from nongonococcal urethritis were treated with an oral dosage of 2 X 150mg roxithromycin daily for seven days. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from the urethra in 22 patients (28%), and Ureaplasma urealyticum in 30 patients (38%). After treatment, all of the 22 patients with formerly positive Chlamydia trachomatis cultures and 23 (77%) of the 30 patients with formerly positive Ureaplasma urealyticum cultures were negative at follow-up. A clinical cure was observed in 70 patients (90%). Three patients (4%) showed side-effects consisting of nausea and headache. It is concluded that roxithromycin is a good alternative to tetracycline and erythromycin in the treatment of non-gonococcal urethritis in males.