title: [Changes in cervical cytology and immune response against Chlamydia trachomatis in sexual workers].
abstract: There are controversies about the relationship between Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) infections and development of cervical carcinoma. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the relation between the presence of IgG against C. trachomatis in serum and IgA in cervical mucus with the prevalence of abnormalities in the Papanicolaou smears. One hundred sixty-six sexual workers were evaluated. They were checked up for sexual transmitted diseases (STD) at the "Unidad Sanitaria de Los Teques, Edo. Miranda". Sexual workers were interviewed and had a gynecological evaluation. Cervical mucus and peripheral blood samples were obtained to determine antibodies IgA and IgG against C. trachomatis. Cervical samples were taken to be evaluated by Papanicolaou staining. The association among the different variables was statistically evaluated (Chi squared and Kendal Tau). The prevalence of antibodies isotype IgA against C. trachomatis in cervical mucus was 45.2% and IgG in serum was 69.3%. Papanicolaou smear showed that 38% of women had normal or low inflammation grade, 35.5% moderate inflammation, 25.3% severe inflammation and 1.2% presented Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LGSIL). There was no statistical correlation among presence of antibodies against C. trachomatis, presence of cervicitis and Papanicoloau smears. In conclusion we could not observe any relationships between immune response against C. trachomatis, cervicitis and Papanicolaou smears abnormalities. However, it is important to consider that other infections, that could be present simultaneously, could interfere in the interpretation of the results.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología de Organismos, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Sartenejas, Baruta, Estado Miranda, Venezuela. mcamejo@usb.ve
authors.forename: María I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Camejo
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mata
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011477:Sex Work