Chlamydial cervicitis in women followed-up for human papillomavirus (HPV) lesions of the uterine cervix.

To assess the concomitant appearance of Chlamydia trachomatis and Human papilloma virus (HPV) (currently linked with the development of cervical cancer) in uterine cervix, a series of 250 women under continuous observation for cervical HPV lesions (with or without concomitant cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN)) were the subject of cervical culturing for C. trachomatis, as well as for IP-PAP (indirect immunoperoxidase) staining of the cervical biopsies with monoclonal antibody to C. trachomatis. Chlamydia-positive staining was found in only 2/204 biopsies (0.98%), whereas Chlamydia could be isolated from the cervix of as many as 26/250 (10.4%) women. In repeat cultures, Chlamydia was isolated in 39/936 specimens (4.2%), reflecting the effect of the treatment instituted. The results are discussed in terms of the suggested association of Chlamydia with CIN, as well as of the possible synergism between Chlamydia and HPV in cervical oncogenesis. The conclusion is drawn that Chlamydia and HPV are covariables of sexual behavior, their concomitant appearance in the uterine cervix most probably being ascribable to sexual promiscuity.