[Clinical studies on doxycycline in male nongonococcal urethritis]

Doxycycline (DOXY) was administered to 45 male patients with nongonococcal urethritis. The dose was 200 mg b.i.d. and the duration of administration was 14 consecutive days in principle. The results were as follows: C. trachomatis was detected from urethral swab by culture confirmation test and/or direct specimen test. Of 45 patients with nongonococcal urethritis, 25 were positive with C. trachomatis. The positive rate was 56%. In the C. trachomatis positive group, the clinical efficacy was excellent in 15 patients, and fair in 4 out of 19 patients which could be studied about the clinical effect after administration. The total efficacy rate was 79%. The efficacy in 11 patients of the C. trachomatis negative group was excellent in 7 patients and fair in 4, the total efficacy rate being 64%. Microbiologically, inclusion bodies disappeared in 7 days of administration in all 9 patients which were positive with C. trachomatis by culture confirmation test. In 19 patients which were positive by direct specimen test, elementary bodies of C. trachomatis disappeared within 7 days in 13 patients (76%) and within 14 days in all patients. As to side effect, mild epigastralgia was observed in 1 patient, but medication could be continued when the dose of DOXY was reduced by half. Clinical laboratory tests were investigated in 15 patients before and after administration and no abnormal alteration was observed.