Serum antibody response to Chlamydia trachomatis TroA and HtrAin women with tubal factor infertility

AbstractPersistent genital chlamydial infection may lead to tubal factor infertility (TFI). Chlamydia trachomatis TroA andHtrA are proteins expressed during persistent chlamydial infection in vitro. We studied serum IgG antibody responseagainst these proteins by EIA in women with TFI and in subfertile women without tubal pathology. Altogether, 22of 258 subfertile women (8.5%) had TFI which was unilateral in 17 cases and bilateral in 5 cases. Overall, 55(21.3%) of the 258 women had TroA and 39 (15.1%) had HtrA antibodies. Seropositivity to TroA and HtrA wasmore common among women with TFI than women with other causes for subfertility (45.5 vs. 19.1%, p = 0.004 forTroA; 36.4 vs. 13.1%, p = 0.004 for HtrA). Mean absorbance values and the prevalence of TroA and HtrA antibodiesincreased with increasing severity of TFI. On the basis of our results, TroA and HtrA serology has the potential tobe further developed to a specific biomarker for C. trachomatis-related TFI.Keywords Chlamydia trachomatis . Persistent infection . TroA . HtrA . Serology . Tubal factor infertilit