Antibodies to Neisseria gonorrhoeae: a study of the urethral exudates of 232 men.

The results of a study of the antibodies that react with Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the urethral exudates of 232 men who attended a clinic of the Department of Sexually Transmitted Diseases at Glasgow, Scotland, are presented. Of 132 men with gonorrhea, antibodies to the gonococcus were identified by use of an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test in 129 (98%): IgA antibody was found in all 129 (98%), IgG antibody in 119 (90%), and IgM antibody in 64 (49%). IgA antibody to the gonococcus was found in the secretions of only one (1%) of another 100 patients who did not have gonococcal urethritis (50 had nongonococcal urethritis and 50 had no evidence of urethritis). IgG antibody was found in 13 (26%) of the 50 men with nongonococcal urethritis and in none of the 50 men who had no evidence of urethritis. When treatment of gonorrhea was successful, the titers of IgA and IgM antibody declined rapidly and were generally undetectable within 14 days; the titers of IgG declined more slowly and could still be detected 28 days after treatment.