Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in women with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of genitourinary mycoplasma infection in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Urine specimens from 49 patients with SLE and 22 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were cultured for mycoplasma. Patient records were reviewed for medical history and SLE disease activity.

Results: Sixty-three percent of the SLE patients were culture positive, compared with 4.5% of the CFS patients (P less than 0.001). Neither corticosteroid treatment, SLE activity, nor age accounted for this difference.

Conclusion: Genitourinary mycoplasma colonization occurs significantly more frequently in SLE than in CFS.