The relationship between serum Chlamydia antibody levels and severity of disease in infertile women with tubal damage.
BACKGROUND
The study explores the relationship between serum Chlamydia antibody titres (CAT) using the whole-cell inclusion immunofluorescence (WIF) test and severity of tubal damage in infertile women undergoing laparoscopy.


METHODS
Comparisons between the extent of specific lesions, including their severity found at laparoscopy, and CAT levels were analysed in 408 infertile women with tubal damage. CAT levels were assayed using the WIF test.


RESULTS
There were significant differences in the severity of individual lesions (tubal occlusion, tubal pathology, fimbrial state, extent and type of tubal and ovarian adhesions, type of tubal and ovarian adhesions) for both left and right adnexa in relation to CAT (P < 0.0001). The presence and severity of lesions found in one adnexum significantly correlated with the findings on the contra-lateral side (r > 0.5; P < 0.01). The American Fertility Society grades for tubal occlusion and adhesions in the right adnexum did not correlate with CAT.


CONCLUSIONS
CAT levels are quantitatively related to the severity of tubal damage in infertile women. Wide variations in the severity of lesions observed in relation to CAT were suggestive of broad individual differences in response to chlamydial infection.
El Hakim
Elsamawal A
EA
Bristol Centre of Reproductive Medicine, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.
Gordon
Uma D
UD
Akande
Valentine A
VA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000276:immunology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial