Abstract
Introduction: We investigated the correlation among antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and 60 kDa C. trachomatis heat shock protein (cHSP60), the avidity index (AI; an indicator of the period of infection), and tubal pathology (such as tubal occlusion and peritubal adhesions) .
Methods: Thirty-six infertile women were enrolled in this study. The serological CT antibody titers (IgG and IgA) and the AT, together with C. pneumoniae and cHSP60 antibody titers (IgG) were evaluated by ELISA. As for tubo-ovarian structure, peritubal adhesions were evaluated in accordance with the rASRM score and tubal passage using indigo carmine was confirmed by diagnostic laparoscopy. The correlation between tubo-ovarian structure, such as peritubal adhesions and tubal, and all of the serologic indicators was investigated in a double-blind study.
Results: Thirty-six cases were categorized by the cHSP60 antibody titer into three groups (n=12: group A, 0.5 ± 0.2; group B, 1.7 ± 0.3; and group C, 4.3 ± 1.2 [COI] ) . As for the serologic indicators, the CT IgA titer was significantly higher in group C (group A, 1.5 ± 1.1; group B, 2.0 ± 1.6; and group C, 5.5 ± 3.4 [COI] ) . As for tubo-ovarian structure, the number of cases in which the rASRM score was < 2 points with unilateral tubal passage was significantly lower in group C (group A, 10/12; group B, 8/12; and group C, 1/12 [case] ) .
Conclusion: The results that the cHSP60 antibody titer correlates significantly both with CT IgA and the degree of the tuboovarian structure's damage suggest that the cHSP60 induced by active infection may have some effects on tubal pathology.
