Follicular fluid antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis and human heat shock protein-60 kDa and infertility in women.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to establish the relationship between presence of anti-Chlamydia trachomatis and anti-HSP60 antibodies in serum and follicular fluid of infertile women.


METHODS
Serum IgG and follicular fluid IgA to Chlamydia trachomatis and human heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) were determined in 41 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).


RESULTS
A significant association was found between presence of bacterial antibodies in serum and IgA anti-HSP60 in follicular fluid.


CONCLUSIONS
Chlamydia trachomatis infection might be triggering an autoimmune process that could negatively affect the success of IVF.
Cortiñas
Paula
P
Laboratorio de Biología de Virus, Centro de Microbiología, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Apdo. Postal 21827, Caracas 1020-A, Venezuela. paulacorti@cantv.net
Muñoz
María Gladys
MG
Loureiro
Carmen Luisa
CL
Pujol
Flor Helene
FH
D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases; D018834:Chaperonin 60 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D018834:Chaperonin 60; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G