title: Cervical nitric oxide release in Chlamydia trachomatis and high-risk human papillomavirus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare cervical fluid nitric oxide release in women with and without Chlamydia trachomatis and high-risk human papillomavirus infection (hrHPV).
  
  
  METHODS
  An open clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Hospital of Helsinki.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine women with (n=21) and without C. trachomatis (n=18).
  
  
  METHODS
  Chlamydia trachomatis and/or hrHPV were studied by using specific RNA- and DNA-based tests. Levels of cervical fluid nitric oxide metabolite (NOx) were assessed by the Griess reaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The difference in cervical fluid NOx between women with and without C. trachomatis and hrHPV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen (67%) C. trachomatis-infected women and three (17%) noninfected women had concomitant hrHPV. The level of cervical fluid NOx in women with C. trachomatis (median 37.5 μmol/l, 95% confidence interval 26.1-50.9) was higher (p=0.02) than that in C. trachomatis-noninfected women (median 19.7 μmol/L, 95% confidence interval 5.6-30.0). The presence of hrHPV did not associate with any difference in NOx levels between C. trachomatis-infected or -noninfected women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chlamydia trachomatis was associated with increased release of nitric oxide metabolites in the uterine cervix. This stimulus was stronger than that of hrHPV, because no additional rise in NOx was seen in women with concomitant C. trachomatis and hrHPV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rahkola
authors.forename: Mervi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Väisänen-Tommiska
authors.forename: Eija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hiltunen-Back
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Auvinen
authors.forename: Olavi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ylikorkala
authors.forename: Tomi S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Mikkola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000378:metabolism; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide