TY - JOUR
T1 - Intestinal spirochetosis in homosexual men
AU - Surawicz, Christina M.
AU - Roberts, Pacita L.
AU - Rompalo, Ann
AU - Quinn, Thomas C.
AU - Holmes, King K.
AU - Stamm, Walter E.
N1 - Funding Information:
From the Division of Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Harbor-view Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants Al-17805 and AI-19121 (Program Grant), Program Project POl-AM-32971, and a contribution from Bristol Meyers to the University of Washington. Requests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. Christina M. Surawicz, Har-borview Medical Center ZA-29, 325 9th Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104. Manuscript submitted May 27, 1986, and accepted October 14, 1986.
PY - 1987/3/23
Y1 - 1987/3/23
N2 - Previous studies have demonstrated intestinal spirochetosis in rectal biopsy specimens from 2 to 7 percent of heterosexual and 36 percent of homosexual patients, but the role of intestinal spirochetosis in the pathogenesis of intestinal disease remains unclear. To assess the clinical, histologic, and microbiologic correlates of intestinal spirochetosis in a high-risk group, rectal biopsy specimens from 130 homosexual men, 92 percent of whom had intestinal symptoms, were evaluated. All men were extensively evaluated for rectal and enteric pathogens. Intestinal spirochetosis was identified in rectal biopsy specimens from 39 (30 percent) men; 15 percent of biopsy specimens revealed intestinal spirochetosis on hematoxylin and eosin plus alcian blue staining, and positive results were found in 30 percent on silver staining. No rectal biopsy specimens from 79 control patients with a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms demonstrated evidence of spirochetosis on hematoxylin and eosin, alcian blue, or silver staining (p <0.0001). Fifty-six percent of rectal biopsy specimens from men with intestinal spirochetosis were normal, and no specific histologic abnormality was correlated with intestinal spirochetosis. There were no differences in the presence of or type of intestinal symptoms, sigmoidoscopic appearance of the mucosa, type of sexual practice, or prior antibiotic use in men with and without spirochetosis. Other intestinal pathogens were frequent in both groups, and only rectal gonorrhea was significantly associated with intestinal spirochetosis. It is concluded that homosexual men with intestinal symptoms have an increased prevalence of spirochetosis, often in association with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Independent association of spirochetosis with clinical or histologic findings could not be demonstrated.
AB - Previous studies have demonstrated intestinal spirochetosis in rectal biopsy specimens from 2 to 7 percent of heterosexual and 36 percent of homosexual patients, but the role of intestinal spirochetosis in the pathogenesis of intestinal disease remains unclear. To assess the clinical, histologic, and microbiologic correlates of intestinal spirochetosis in a high-risk group, rectal biopsy specimens from 130 homosexual men, 92 percent of whom had intestinal symptoms, were evaluated. All men were extensively evaluated for rectal and enteric pathogens. Intestinal spirochetosis was identified in rectal biopsy specimens from 39 (30 percent) men; 15 percent of biopsy specimens revealed intestinal spirochetosis on hematoxylin and eosin plus alcian blue staining, and positive results were found in 30 percent on silver staining. No rectal biopsy specimens from 79 control patients with a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms demonstrated evidence of spirochetosis on hematoxylin and eosin, alcian blue, or silver staining (p <0.0001). Fifty-six percent of rectal biopsy specimens from men with intestinal spirochetosis were normal, and no specific histologic abnormality was correlated with intestinal spirochetosis. There were no differences in the presence of or type of intestinal symptoms, sigmoidoscopic appearance of the mucosa, type of sexual practice, or prior antibiotic use in men with and without spirochetosis. Other intestinal pathogens were frequent in both groups, and only rectal gonorrhea was significantly associated with intestinal spirochetosis. It is concluded that homosexual men with intestinal symptoms have an increased prevalence of spirochetosis, often in association with Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Independent association of spirochetosis with clinical or histologic findings could not be demonstrated.
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U2 - 10.1016/0002-9343(87)90104-5
DO - 10.1016/0002-9343(87)90104-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 3826122
AN - SCOPUS:0023613304
SN - 0002-9343
VL - 82
SP - 587
EP - 592
JO - The American journal of medicine
JF - The American journal of medicine
IS - 3 SUPPL.
ER -