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Immune response toChlamydia trachomatis heat-shock protein in infertile female patients and influence ofChlamydia pneumoniae antibodies

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Abstract

A total of 446 sera from 245 patients with primary or secondary infertility, all of whom were examined laparoscopically, 117 patients withChlamydia trachomatis-positive cervical swabs, and 84 control persons (50 obstetric patients and 34 female blood donors) were tested for antibodies toChlamydia trachomatis and toChlamydia pneumoniae with the microimmunofluorescence (MIF) test. MIF test antibody rates were highest in patients with complete tubal occlusion (73%) and in patients with provenChlamydia trachomatis infection (74%), whereas only 9 to 10% of the control group showedChlamydia trachomatis antibodies. Reaction to the 60 kDa antigen ofChlamydia trachomatis, a heat-shock protein (hsp) analogue, has been suggested as a possible marker for the development of chronic sequelae afterChlamydia trachomatis infection. Immunoblot analysis of 222 sera (169 infertility patients, 20 antigen-positive patients, and 33 mothers) showed a significantly higher anti-hsp antibody rate in patients with complete tubal occlusion than in infertility patients with normal fallopian tubes (76% vs. 19%, p<0.001). The presence of antibodies not only toChlamydia trachomatis but also toChlamydia pneumoniae in the MIF test was associated with a significantly higher rate of anti-hsp antibodies and with complete tubal occlusion. This association did not appear to be due to cross-reactivity betweenChlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies in the MIF test.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Hermann-Herder-Str. 11, D-79104, Freiburg, Germany

    H. M. Freidank, A. S. Herr, M. Wiedmann-Al-Ahmad & B. Jung

  2. Universitäts-Frauenklinik, D-79104, Freiburg, Germany

    A. Clad

Authors
  1. H. M. Freidank
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  2. A. Clad
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  3. A. S. Herr
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  4. M. Wiedmann-Al-Ahmad
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  5. B. Jung
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Freidank, H.M., Clad, A., Herr, A.S. et al. Immune response toChlamydia trachomatis heat-shock protein in infertile female patients and influence ofChlamydia pneumoniae antibodies. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 14, 1063–1069 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01590940

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