title: Lack of association between serum antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and a history of recurrent pregnancy loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the relation between recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, and to compare the prevalence of antibodies to C. trachomatis in women with primary and secondary RPL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective comparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital and university student health center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy patients with RPL were selected from women attending an RPL outpatient clinic; 40 normal parous women and 94 asymptomatic sexually active women served as controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected during the clinical examinations for RPL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA antibodies were detected by two independent methods, a recombinant ELISA specific to the genus Chlamydia and microimmunofluorescence testing specific to the species C. trachomatis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant difference in the frequencies of IgG or IgA between the women with RPL and the controls. The antibody frequencies were similar in the women with primary and secondary RPL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of serum antibodies to C. trachomatis is not associated with RPL. Women with primary and secondary RPL do not differ with respect to the prevalence of antichlamydial antibodies. Thus, women with RPL do not benefit from screening for chlamydial IgG or IgA antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haartman Institute, University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paukku
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tulppala
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puolakkainen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anttila
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paavonen
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000382:microbiology*; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G