The nature of urogenital involvements in female uro-arthritis, with special reference to chlamydial infection.

To study the nature of urogenital involvements in female uro-arthritis 73 consecutive patients with arthritis concomitant with any type of urogenital involvement were examined. The controls were 281 females interviewed only and an additional 83 also gynaecologically examined. A history of cervicitis, salpingitis, dysuria and pyelocystitis/-nephritis occurred significantly more often in patients than in controls. Clinical gynaecological examination revealed cervicitis in 26,8% (19/71) of the patients and 15.7% (13/83) of the controls (p less than 0.05). Aseptic pyuria was definitely more frequent in patients (19/73) than in controls (0/63). The isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis was positive in 14.7% (10/68) of the patients and 3.7% (3/81) of the controls (p less than 0.025). Serological evidence (titre greater than or equal to 64) for chlamydial infection was obtained in 53.4% (39/73) of the patients and 18.2% (14/77) of the controls (p less than 0.00025). The results indicate the importance of urogenital history and findings in females with rheumatic attacks. The most prominent and persistent urogenital involvements were cervicitis, salpingitis, pyuria and dysuria. Chlamydial infection appears in any case to be responsible for part of these involvements (42/73).