Circulating antibodies to a conserved epitope of the Chlamydia trachomatis 60-kDa heat shock protein is associated with decreased spontaneous fertility rate in ectopic pregnant women treated by salpingectomy.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective study was aimed to evaluate whether non-invasive clinical and serologic parameters of tubal disease are predictive for subsequent spontaneous conception and pregnancy outcome after first episode of ectopic pregnancy (EP).


METHODS
Overall, 144 women aged <35 years were enrolled. Outcome of subsequent spontaneous conception was analyzed after 3 years and compared with clinical parameters and antibody responses to Chlamydia trachomatis and epitopes of the 60-kDa chlamydial heat shock protein (CHSP-60).


RESULTS
Antibody response to a conserved epitope of CHSP-60 (amino acids, aa 260-277) was independently correlated with both decreased spontaneous conception and term delivery rates (adjusted odds ratios, OR: 3.6 and 5.4, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Presence of circulating antibodies to a conserved epitope of the CHSP-60 is associated with a lower spontaneous conception rate, and increased likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcome in women treated by salpingectomy for first episode of EP.
Sziller
István
I
First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. sziller@noi1.sote.hu
Fedorcsák
Peter
P
Csapó
Zsolt
Z
Szirmai
Katalin
K
Linhares
Iara M
IM
Papp
Zoltàn
Z
Witkin
Steven S
SS
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; C067562:protein 60K, Chlamydia trachomatis