Predicting tubal factor infertility by using markers of humoral and cell-mediated immune response against Chlamydia trachomatis

Waddlia chondrophila is an emerging intracellular pathogen belonging to the order of Chlamydiales, and was previously associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, as well as tubal factor infertility (TFI). In this study, we investigate the link between both W. chondrophila and Chlamydia trachomatis IgG seropositivity and TFI. Antibodies against both bacteria were measured in 890 serum samples of women visiting a fertility clinic. After a hysterosalpingography and/or laparoscopy, they were classified as either TFI-negative (TFI−) or TFI-positive (TFI+). The total seroprevalence was 13.4% for C. trachomatis and 38.8% for W. chondrophila. C. trachomatis antibodies were present significantly more often in the TFI+ group than in the TFI− group, while for W. chondrophila no difference could be observed. In conclusion, our study confirms the association between C. trachomatis seropositivity and TFI, but no association was found between W. chondrophila seropositivity and TFI. The high percentage of W. chondrophila seropositivity in all women attending a fertility clinic does, however, demonstrate the need for further research on this Chlamydia-like bacterium and its possible role in infertility.

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Tubal factor pathology caused by Chlamydia trachomatis: The role of serology

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1258/095646202762226128 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 13 (1_suppl) ◽

pp. 26-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

J W Mouton ◽

M F Peeters ◽

J H Van Rijssort-Vos ◽

R P Verkooyen

Keyword(s):

Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽

Patient Group ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Tubal Factor Infertility ◽

Tubal Factor ◽

Specific Igg ◽

Species Specific ◽

Additional Value ◽

Work Up

One of the causes of infertility in females is tubal pathology as a result of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). Diagnosis and identification of patients is hampered by the lack of rapid, easy, sensitive and specific methods. The introduction of Ct-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, based upon synthetic peptides may subsequently increase the sensitivity and specificity for the detection of tubal factor infertility caused by Ct. In order to determine the value of these tests for serological diagnosis of Ct infections, we evaluated several commercially available assays (C. trachomatis enzyme immunoassay (EIA), Labsystems (CtL); SeroCT, Savyon (CtS); pELISA, Medac (CtMp); and a reference assay rELISA, Medac (CtMr)) in two study populations. The first group consisted of 134 female patients with infertility problems. Tubal factor infertility was observed in 85 of these patients (63%). A higher % positivity was found for Ct-specific IgG for the CtL, CtS and CtMp, 41% vs 10%, 57% vs 18% and 55% vs 25% respectively as compared to patients with infertility due to other problems. A similar trend was observed for Ct-specific IgA. The specificity of Ct-specific IgA and IgG in this patient group varied between 92 to 98% and 76 to 90%, respectively. The second group consisted of 107 consecutive gynaecology patients with fertility problems or suspected PID. In this particular patient group, the specificity of the peptide based tests were around 80% and 90% for Ct-specific IgA and 75% and 85% for Ct-specific IgG, respectively. The negative predictive values exceeded 90%, while the positive predictive values varied from 30% to 47% for Ct-specific IgA and was around 30% for Ct-specific IgG. Testing Ct-specific IgG had no additional value above Ct-specific IgA alone. We conclude that the new synthetic peptide-based EIA tests are able to detect species-specific antibodies, which are correlated to (active) infection, and that in particular IgA may be useful in the serodiagnosis of tubal factor infertility caused by C. trachomatis, and will contribute in simplifying the work-up in patients with infertility.

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