The value of Chlamydia trachomatis antibody testing as part of routine infertility investigations

• Published in: Human reproduction (Oxford) 2000-05, Vol.15 (5), p.1079-1082
• Main Authors: Thomas, K., Coughlin, L., Mannion, P.T., Haddad, N.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; antibody; Biological and medical sciences; Chlamydia Infections - diagnosis; Chlamydia Infections - drug therapy; Chlamydia trachomatis; Chlamydia trachomatis - immunology; Endoscopy; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods; Fallopian Tube Diseases - epidemiology; Fallopian Tube Diseases - microbiology; Fallopian Tube Diseases - pathology; Fallopian Tube Patency Tests; Fallopian Tubes - pathology; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Genital system; Humans; hysterosalpingography; Hysterosalpingography - methods; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Incidence; Infertility, Female - epidemiology; Infertility, Female - microbiology; Infertility, Female - pathology; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Laparoscopy; Medical sciences; tubal damage
• ISSN: 0268-1161; 1460-2350; 1460-2350
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/15.5.1079

Laparoscopy is considered the gold standard for the evaluation of tubal disease but it is an invasive and costly procedure. Chlamydia trachomatis antibody testing is simple and inexpensive and causes minimal inconvenience to the patient. Using the micro-immunofluorescence technique we assessed the significance of positive serology. There was a marked association between the titre and the likelihood of tubal damage. In the group with low titres (1 in 32) there was only a 5% incidence of tubal damage; however, there was a progressive increase in the incidence of tubal damage in those with higher titres. Twenty out of 57 patients with titres higher than 1 in 32 had tubal damage (35%). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.0001, χ2 test). By using C. trachomatis antibody testing more widely it may be possible to reduce the number of laparoscopies performed. It should therefore become an integral part of the fertility work-up.