title: Antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in women with infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy.
abstract: Sixty-three women admitted to the gynecological ward at the University Hospital, Linköping, were studied for the presence of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis. 48% of infertile women, 78% of women with ectopic pregnancy and 44% of women with pelvic inflammatory disease had higher titer (greater than or equal to 1:128) IgG/IgA/IgM antibodies to C. trachomatis. Among 55 healthy pregnant women, used as controls, 13% had this high antibody titer. Among 30 women with a titer of greater than or equal to 1:128, 33% of previous conceptions resulted in ectopic pregnancy and 31% resulted in child birth. The corresponding figures among women with no antibodies to C. trachomatis were 12% and 60%, respectively. The prevalence of IgA antibodies varied from 22% to 38% in women with pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy or infertility. The results indicate the importance for C. trachomatis in development of sequelae to lower genital tract infections in women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Bacteriology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kihlström
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindgren
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rydén
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial