Breyer_pap_1_A4_2011 27/06/2012 11:07 Page 81 Infection Sexually Transmitted Infection and Long-term Risk of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Allison S Glass,1 Bogdana Kovshilovskaya2 and Benjamin N Breyer3 1. Junior Specialist; 2. Medical Student; 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, California, US Abstract Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are prevalent. Clinical presentation is varied and often represents complex pathophysiological processes. Sexually transmitted infection (STI), typically acquired during young adulthood, produces genital tract inflammation with potentially systemic adverse outcomes. Clinical and basic science research suggests that sexually acquired pathogens may play a role in development of LUTS later in life. A self-reported history of STI is correlated with moderate to severe LUTS in multiple studies. Furthermore, analysis of tissue and other biological specimens demonstrate evidence of sexually transmitted pathogens in patients with prostatitis or urinary tract symptoms in several reports. While evidence is limited, practitioners should consider risk of long-term urinary morbidity when counselling patients about STI treatment and prevention. Keywords Sexually transmitted infection, lower urinary tract symptoms, ascending infection, chronic inflammation, benign prostatic hypertrophy, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, human immunodeficiency virus, genital herpes, syphilis, pelvic inflammatory disease Disclosure: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Received: 29 March 2012 Accepted: 30 April 2012 Citation: European Urological Review, 2012;7(1):81–4 Correspondence: Benjamin N Breyer, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Urology, 400 Parnassus A610, San Francisco, CA 94143, US. E: [email protected] Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) include bothersome urinary complaints such as frequency, urgency and nocturia. It is estimated that half of people worldwide will experience some degree of LUTS in their lifetime and the prevalence may be rising.1 Treatment-associated costs are estimated to be billions of dollars.2,3 While a number of risk factors exist for the development of LUTS such as advancing age, diabetes and depression, among others, sexually transmitted infections (STI) have been suggested to play a pathogenic role. STIs directly impact the genito-urinary tract by local and systemic inflammation. This review presents current literature on patient-reported history of sexually acquired infections and the development of LUTS later in life. We also describe pathways of STI-mediated inflammation and pathophysiology of LUTS. Sexually Transmitted Infections – The Scope of the Problem Despite implementation of widespread screening and improved treatment practices, STIs remain a US healthcare concern. In 2010, 19 million new STIs were diagnosed, accounting for US$17 billion healthcare dollars.4 Chlamydia (Chlamydia trachomatis) is the most common STI reported, occurring in 6.8 % of girls ages 14–19 years. Over 1.3 million cases were diagnosed in 2010, representing a decrease in incidence for the first time in a decade. While screening has resulted in a decrease in incidence, diagnosis and treatment is complicated by the fact that the infection can be asymptomatic in men and women. Gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) accounted for over 300,000 STIs; antibiotic resistance, especially to fluoroquinolones, is expected to produce a rise in incidence in the near future. The number © TOUCH BRIEFINGS 2012 of cases of syphilis (Treponema pallidum) is increasing, especially amongst black men who have sex with men.4 Other causes of non-gonococcal urethritis include genital mycoplasms (i.e. Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma genitalium and M. hominis), Trichomonas vaginalis and herpes simplex virus. The presence of ulcerating STIs, such as syphilis and genital herpes, increases the likelihood of transmitting and acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Upwards of 50,000 new cases of HIV are diagnosed annually and as of 2008, 1.2 million people were HIV positive in the US.4 Clinical Evidence Recent literature supports the hypothesis that inflammation secondary to STIs plays an important role in LUTS pathogenesis. The majority of studies reflect male-only populations with varying degrees of demographic variables including race, age and specific sexual orientation described. Table 1 presents specific studies that have evaluated LUTS in men with history of STI. Male Populations Sutcliffe et al. describe the impact of STIs on LUTS in the large nested Health professionals follow-up study (HPFS), an ongoing prospective cohort.5 This study found that a history of gonorrhoea was associated with any (odds ratio [OR] 1.76), moderate/severe (OR 1.89) and severe (OR 2.69) LUTS. Further, this was the only study to address incident LUTS as data was taken from surveys collected every two years from 1992–2000. History of gonorrhoea also correlated to any (OR 1.63) and severe (OR 2.4) new-onset symptoms. Subsequently, Sutcliffe et al. evaluated prevalence of viral STIs in male participants of the 81 Breyer_pap_1_A4_2011 29/06/2012 10:34 Page 82 Infection Table 1: Studies that Examine Sexually Transmitted Infection History and Patient-reported Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Men Study Year n Per cent >60 Years LUTS Measure Prevalence Moderate or Severe LUTS Sutcliffe et al.5 2005 30,123 NS Modified 9.5 % IPSS/AUA SI Sutcliffe et al.6 2007 7,015 NS Presence of nocturia, NS STI Prevalence STI and Risk of Moderate or Severe LUTS Gonorrhoea, 3 % Gonorrhoea 1.89 OR (CI 1.51–2.37) Syphilis, 0.2 % Syphilis 1.45 OR (CI 0.77–2.73) HSV-1, 73.6 %* Age 30–49: incomplete emptying, HSV-2, 59 %* HHV-8 5.8 OR (CI 1.8–19.1) hesitancy or HPV-16, 10.8 %* weak stream CMV, 68.5 %* Age 50–59: HHV-8, 3.3 %* HPV 5.6 OR (CI 2.1–14.9) HBV, 8.6 %* CMV 3.9 OR (CI 1.5–9.8) HCV, 3.3 %* HCV 11.7 OR (CI 2.9–46.7) 1.8 OR (CI 1.5–2.1) Collins et al.7 2002 31,681 NS** IPSS/AUA SI 16 % NS, 3.1 % Joseph et al.8 2003 708 28 % IPSS/AUA SI 29.7 % NS, 54 % 1.5 OR (CI 1.08–2.07) Wallner et al.9 2009 703 43 % IPSS/AUA SI 6.7 % Gonorrhoea, 52 % Gonorrhoea 1.42 OR (CI 0.77–2.62) Breyer et al.11 2012 2,348 5.9 % IPSS/AUA SI 33 % Syphilis, 3.7 % Syphilis 0.49 OR (CI 0.07–3.75) Herpes, NS, 1.3 % Herpes 2.09 OR (CI 0.25–17.3) HIV, 14.1 % HIV 2.03 OR (CI 1.15–3.59) Gonorrhoea, 19 % Gonorrhoea 1.43 OR (CI 1.08–1.88) Syphilis, 9.4 % Syphilis 1.4 OR (0.97–2.01) Chlamydia,12.6 % Herpes, 8.1 % Breyer et al.12 2011 1,830 NS*** IPSS/AUA SI 35 % HIV, 17.7 % HIV, 1.07 (CI 0.74–1.5)± Gonorrhoea, 25 % HIV (+ADI), 1.52 (CI 1.09–2.12)± Chlamydia, 14 % Gonorrhoea 1.39 OR (CI 1.09–1.79)✝ *Varying proportions of total cohort were subjected to individual sexually transmitted infection (STI) analysis. **Mean age of those with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) was 60.5 years. ***Mean age of HIV-infected group was 45 years. ✝Moderate LUTS only. ± = adjusted OR; ADI = AIDS-defining illness; AUA SI = American Urological Association symptom index; CMV = cytomegalovirus; HIV = human immunodeficiency virus; HBV = hepatitis B virus; HCV = hepatitis C virus; HHV-8 = human herpes virus 8; HPV = human papillomavirus; HSV = herpes simplex virus; IPSS = international prostate symptom score; NS = non-specified; OR = odds ratio; Bold font reflects statistical significance. Third national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES).6 Positive associations were found between serological evidence of several sexually acquired viruses and reporting two or more LUTS symptoms in men age 30–59 years. Collins et al. examined a large, nationwide sample of healthy men from the HPFS study.7 Of 31,681 men who were surveyed, 16 % reported a history of prostatitis or LUTS. History of STI (pathogen not specified) resulted in 1.8-fold increase in odds of these symptoms. African-American Men Several studies specifically address LUTS and STI history in African American men.8,9 Joseph et al. describe a cohort in which over half reported a history of any STI (including gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes or genital warts) and this conferred a 1.5-fold increased risk of developing moderate to severe LUTS.8 Conversely, Wallner et al. in a population-based sample of African-American men found no significant association between LUTS and history of gonorrhoea, syphilis, genital herpes or partner history of cervical cancer.9 Ejike et al. investigated the role of STI and chronic prostatitis (CP) symptoms by performing a cross-sectional survey of black undergraduate students in Nigeria.10 Presence and severity of symptoms was assessed by use of the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). Of the 2,003 men who completed the survey, 73 % of those with history of STI had CP symptoms. Presence of CP symptoms correlated positively and significantly with self-reported history of STI (p<0.05). Homosexual Men Breyer et al. report results of a cross-sectional, Internet-based survey assessing the relationship of LUTS to urinary tract infection (UTI), 82 prostatitis, STI, lifetime sexual partner count and recreational drug use in homosexual men.11 A relatively young population completed the survey (mean age 39 years). One-third of the respondents reported moderate to severe LUTS and 14.1 % reported history of HIV, 12.6 % chlamydia and 19 % gonorrhoea. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between positive lifetime history of HIV or gonorrhoea and moderate to severe LUTS. In the same cohort, Breyer et al. evaluated whether HIV/AIDS status was an independent risk for LUTS.12 Men with HIV were more likely to report moderate to severe LUTS. After adjusting for age, co-morbidities and history of UTI, STI and prostatitis, AIDS-defining HIV positive men were 1.79-times more likely to experience moderate to severe LUTS. Gonorrhoea was also found to be an independent risk factor for moderate LUTS. Women There are very few studies that evaluate the impact of STI and development of LUTS in women, likely due to varied presentation, aetiology and classification of symptoms. Tchoudomirova et al. describe a cohort of 217 who reported recurrent urinary symptoms in spite of negative urinary culture.13 Symptomatic women had more STIs compared to women without symptoms, in particular, history of genital herpes (6.5 versus 2.5 %, p=0.01) and genital warts (11.1 versus 7.0 %, p=0.06). However, there was no difference in rates of patient-reported history of chlamydia or gonorrhoea infection. Potts et al. investigated incidence of Ureaplasma urealyticum in 48 women with chronic LUTS.14 Half of these women were urine culture positive and following antibiotic treatment, symptom severity and urinary frequency improved. As Ureaplasma is a common component of normal genital flora it can be sexually transmitted and as this study found, eradication can lead to reduction in LUTS. EUROPEAN UROLOGICAL REVIEW Breyer_pap_1_A4_2011 29/06/2012 10:35 Page 83 Sexually Transmitted Infection and Long-term Risk of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms In addition to lack of literature addressing STI infection in women, there are several limitations to the available literature. Most of the studies described are survey-based, which are prone to subject reporting bias and STI treatment information is generally unknown. Furthermore, the majority of studies do not address the temporal component of STI and onset of urinary symptoms. Men STI can lead to long-term development of LUTS by a variety of mechanisms (see Figure 1). Initially, STI often presents as urethritis (urethral discharge and/or dysuria), epididymitis, genital ulcers or genital warts. Local inflammation can result in scar tissue deposition and urethral stricture disease, which often manifests as LUTS. Largely secondary to gonorrhoeal infection, this sequela is now very uncommon because of antibiotic use.15 In men, ascending infection of urogenital pathogens to the prostate can result in acute prostatitis and potentially chronic infection. By way of multiple biological parameters, investigators have assessed presence of several sexually acquired pathogens in men with chronic prostatitis (CP) symptoms. Cultures of prostate tissue specimens, expressed prostatic secretions, urethral swabs and semen as well as serum antibody titers have identified pathogens such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Corynebacterium seminale and Coryneform spp. in men with symptoms of CP or chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).16–23 Importantly, these studies reveal positive associations between sexually acquired pathogens and CP symptoms in the absence of clinically active infection. Through a variety of mechanisms, including production of chronic inflammation, STIs appear to promote risk of long-term symptomatic prostatitis symptoms. Several sexually acquired pathogens have been linked to chronic histological inflammation within the prostate. Bacterial causes of STI, including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydiatrachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis and Treponema pallidum, have been found to produce persistent inflammatory response within the gland’s parenchyma.24 Similarly, in vitro rat models have demonstrated prostate epithelial cell upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokine genes in response to Chlamydia murinarum exposure. Chlamydia was also detected in numerous sites distant from prostate installation within the urogenital tract including urethra, bladder, prostate and seminal vesicles.25 Chlamydia was also shown to persist three months after introduction into the prostate gland, accompanied by significant histological changes and inflammatory cell infiltration.26 Chronic inflammationis a common histological finding in tissue specimens of men with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), an important cause of both irritative and obstructive urinary symptoms in men. Several studies suggest chronic inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of BPH.5,6,27 Sutcliffe et al. postulate that infection of these pathogens within the prostate results in high amounts of inflammation-mediated secretion of growth factors that promote stimulation of prostate epithelial cell growth. Women Research regarding the pathogenesis and possible mechanism for an association between STI and LUTS is lacking. Acute STI presentation EUROPEAN UROLOGICAL REVIEW STI Rx toxicity Damage to pelvic nerves Systemic effect Lower urinary tract symptoms Pathogenesis of Local and Ascending Infection Figure 1: Pathophysiology of Sexually Transmitted Infection-mediated Inflammation and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms STI-mediated inflammation Limitations Prostatitis/ PID Ascending infection prostate or uterus/ fallopian tubes Chronic inflammation BPH Local effect Chronic inflammation Scar tissue/ stricture BPH = benign prostatic hyperplasia; PID = pelvic inflammatory disease; Rx = treatment prescription; STI = sexually transmitted infection. in women is varied and can include non-specific irritative urinary symptoms, urethritis, cervicitis or salpingitis. In women of reproductive age, ascending infection results in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and is estimated to occur in 8 % of women.28 Typically associated with chlamydia or gonorrhoea infection, PID can increase risk of recurrent PID, ectopic pregnancy, infertility and chronic pelvic pain.29 Cases of chronic chlamydia infection and incontinence have been reported.30 Half of women infected with gonorrhoea and 90 % of those infected with chlamydia are asymptomatic.4 Systemic Effects Processes that result in systemic inflammation are postulated to afflict the urinary tract and contribute to new or worsening LUTS.31,32 Late-stage syphilis or neuro-syphilis, now uncommon because of widespread treatment efforts, has been associated with incontinence and other lower tract symptoms.33,34 Similarly, end-organ damage secondary to HIV and HIV-treatment are associated with a variety of urological morbidities including stone disease, UTI, sexual dysfunction and nephropathy. 35–38 Detrusor instability and urodynamic abnormalities, thought to result from damage to pelvic nerves that control the bladder, have also been observed in patients with HIV.39,40 Conclusion and Future STIs are prevalent, with over one million cases reported annually. As there is much focus on the amount of healthcare dollars and resources spent on screening and treatment of STIs, the long-term cost to the patient is less recognised. Through a variety of mechanisms, STI-mediated inflammation appears to play an important role in the development of significant urinary tract morbidity. Several clinical studies have found positive associations between moderate or severe LUTS and history of gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV and other sexually acquired viruses. Other than treatment of the causative pathogen, it is unknown if and how to adjust treatment of urinary symptoms that occur in patients with history of STI. While limitations to the available data must be considered, providers can discuss risk of LUTS when counselling patients about STI treatment and prevention. n 83 Breyer_pap_1_A4_2011 27/06/2012 11:07 Page 84 Infection 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 84 Irwin DE, Kopp ZS, Agatep B, et al., Worldwide prevalence estimates of lower urinary tract symptoms, overactive bladder, urinary incontinence and bladder outlet obstruction, BJU Int, 2011;108:1132–8. Saigal CS, Joyce G, Economic costs of benign prostatic hyperplasia in the private sector, J Urol, 2005;173:1309–13. Wei JT, Calhoun E, Jacobsen SJ, Urologic diseases in america project: benign prostatic hyperplasia, J Urol, 2008;179:S75–80. Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance 2010, Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control. Available from: www.cdc.gov/std/stats10/default.htm (accessed 1 May 2012). Sutcliffe S, Giovannucci E, De Marzo AM, et al., Sexually transmitted infections, prostatitis, ejaculation frequency, and the odds of lower urinary tract symptoms, Am J Epidemiol, 2005;162:898–906. Sutcliffe S, Rohrmann S, Giovannucci E, et al., Viral infections and lower urinary tract symptoms in the third national health and nutrition examination survey, J Urol, 2007;178:2181–5. Collins MM, Meigs JB, Barry MJ, et al., Prevalence and correlates of prostatitis in the health professionals follow-up study cohort, J Urol, 2002;167:1363–6. Joseph MA, Harlow SD, Wei JT, et al., Risk factors for lower urinary tract symptoms in a population-based sample of African-American men, Am J Epidemiol, 2003;157:906–14. Wallner LP, Clemens JQ, Sarma AV, Prevalence of and risk factors for prostatitis in African American men: the Flint Men’s Health Study, Prostate, 2009;69:24–32. Ejike CE, Self-reported history of sexually transmitted infection and chronic prostatitis symptoms: a cross-sectional study of a Nigerian undergraduate population, Int J STD AIDS, 2011;22:91–4. Breyer BN, Vittinghoff E, Van Den Eeden SK, et al., Effect of sexually transmitted infections, lifetime sexual partner count, and recreational drug use on lower urinary tract symptoms in men who have sex with men, Urology, 2012;79:188–93. Breyer BN, Van den Eeden SK, Horberg MA, et al., HIV status is an independent risk factor for reporting lower urinary tract symptoms, J Urol, 2011;185:1710–5. Tchoudomirova K, Mardh PA, Kallings I, et al., History, clinical findings, sexual behavior and hygiene habits in women with and without recurrent episodes of urinary symptoms, Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 1998;77:654–9. 14. Potts JM, Ward AM, Rackley RR, Association of chronic urinary symptoms in women and Ureaplasma urealyticum, Urology, 2000;55:486–9. 15. Jordan GH, McCannon KA, Urethral Stricture Disease. In: Wein AJ (ed.), Campbell-Walsh Urology, 10th edition, Philadephia, PA: Elsevier Saunders, 2012. 16. Domingue GJ Sr, Cryptic bacterial infection in chronic prostatitis: diagnostic and therapeutic implications, Curr Opin Urol, 1998;8:45–9. 17. Mandar R, Raukas E, Turk S, et al., Mycoplasmas in semen of chronic prostatitis patients, Scand J Urol Nephrol, 2005;39:479–82. 18. Nickel JC, Costerton JW, Bacterial localization in antibiotic-refractory chronic bacterial prostatitis, Prostate, 1993;23:107–14. 19. Ostaszewska I, Zdrodowska-Stefanow B, Badyda J, et al., Chlamydia trachomatis: probable cause of prostatitis, Int J STD AIDS, 1998;9:350–3. 20. Sanchis-Bayarri Vaillant V, Sanchez Sanchez R, Marcaida Benito G, et al., A Staphylococcus haemolyticus study in urinary infections. An analysis of 8 cases, Rev Clin Esp, 1992;190:443–6. 21. Takahashi S, Riley DE, Krieger JN, Application of real-time polymerase chain reaction technology to detect prostatic bacteria in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, World J Urol, 2003;21:100–4. 22. Turk S, Korrovits P, Punab M, et al., Coryneform bacteria in semen of chronic prostatitis patients, Int J Androl, 2007;30:123–8. 23. Domingue GJ Sr, Hellstrom WJ, Prostatitis, Clin Microbiol Rev, 1998;11:604–13. 24. De Marzo AM, Platz EA, Sutcliffe S, et al., Inflammation in prostate carcinogenesis, Nat Rev Cancer, 2007;7:256–69. 25. Mackern-Oberti JP, Maccioni M, Cuffini C, et al., Susceptibility of prostate epithelial cells to Chlamydia muridarum infection and their role in innate immunity by recruitment of intracellular Toll-like receptors 4 and 2 and MyD88 to the inclusion, Infect Immun, 2006;74:6973–81. 26. Mackern-Oberti JP, Motrich RD, Breser ML, et al., Male rodent genital tract infection with Chlamydia muridarum: persistence in the prostate gland that triggers self-immune reactions in genetically susceptible hosts, J Urol, 2011;186:1100–6. 27. Chughtai B, Lee R, Te A, et al., Inflammation and benign prostatic hyperplasia: clinical implications, Curr Urol Rep, 2011;12:274–7. 28. Abma JC, Chandra A, Mosher WD, et al., Fertility, family planning, and women’s health: new data from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth, Vital Health Stat 23, 1997;1–114. 29. Short VL, Totten PA, Ness RB, et al., Clinical presentation of Mycoplasma genitalium Infection versus Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection among women with pelvic inflammatory disease, Clin Infect Dis, 2009;48:41–7. 30. Haenggi W, Ammann M, Katz M, et al., Urethral isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis in women with urinary incontinence, Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol, 1991;42:53–6. 31. Phelan S, Grodstein F, Brown JS, Clinical research in diabetes and urinary incontinence: what we know and need to know, J Urol, 2009;182:S14–7. 32. St Sauver JL, Sarma AV, Jacobson DJ, et al., Associations between C-reactive protein and benign prostatic hyperplasia/lower urinary tract symptom outcomes in a population-based cohort, Am J Epidemiol, 2009;169:1281–90. 33. Garber SJ, Christmas TJ, Rickards D, Voiding dysfunction due to neurosyphilis, Br J Urol, 1990;66:19–21. 34. Wheeler JS Jr, Culkin DJ, O’Hara RJ, et al., Bladder dysfunction and neurosyphilis, J Urol, 1986;136:903–5. 35. Kopp JB, Miller KD, Mican JA, et al., Crystalluria and urinary tract abnormalities associated with indinavir, Ann Intern Med, 1997;127:119–25. 36. Lebovitch S, Mydlo JH, HIV-AIDS: urologic considerations, Urol Clin North Am, 2008;35:59–68; vi. 37. Reiter WJ, Schon-Pernerstorfer H, Dorfinger K, et al., Frequency of urolithiasis in individuals seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus treated with indinavir is higher than previously assumed, J Urol, 1999;161:1082–4. 38. Shindel AW, Akhavan A, Sharlip ID, Urologic aspects of HIV infection, Med Clin North Am, 2011;95:129–51. 39. Hermieu JF, Delmas V, Boccon-Gibod L, Micturition disturbances and human immunodeficiency virus infection, J Urol, 1996;156:157–9. 40. Kane CJ, Bolton DM, Connolly JA, et al., Voiding dysfunction in human immunodeficiency virus infections, J Urol, 1996;155:523–6. EUROPEAN UROLOGICAL REVIEW
© Copyright 2024