[Antibodies against the chlamydial heat shock protein in women with periadnexal adhesions]

OBJECTIVE: To compare and analyze IgG antibodies against chlamydial heat shock protein (cHSP60) in the blood serum of women with or without periadnexal adhesions in small pelvis. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Masaryk University, Brno, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Faculty Hospital Brno. METHODS: IgG antibodies against cHSP60 in the blood serum were detected by means of recombinant enzyme immunoanalysis ("cHSP60 - IgG - rELISA medac"). The presence of antibodies was expressed as +, ++ or +++ pozitive. Laparoscopy according to a standard procedure was performed in 76 women (age 28 +/- 43 years) from couples with fertility disorders treated in the Centre of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. Chí-square test (programme Statcalc - EpiInfo 6) and calculation of OR value were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-four women (31.6%) had normal finding in small pelvis. Periadnexal adhesions were detected in 43 (56.6%) patients, hydrosalpinx in 13 cases (17.1%), endometriosis in 27 (35.5%) patients and uterine myomas in 11 (145%) women. In the group of 33 women without periadnexal adhesions cHSP-60 antibodies were pozitive in 3 women (9.1%), in 43 women with periadnexal adhesions were pozitive in 17 cases (39.5%). In 13 patients with hydrosalpinx cHSP-60 antibodies were pozitive in 61.5%. In patients with periadnexal adhesions semiquantitative pozitivity +++ was detected in 8 cases (18.6%), 4 of them with hydrosalpinx (30.8%). Statistical analysis found significantly higher presence of cHSP-60 antibodies in women with periadnexal adhesions (OR = 654, CI interval = 1.59 - 37.81, chi-square: p = 0.0028) CONCLUSION: Women with periadnexal adhesions have more frequent and stronger pozitivity of IgG antibodies against chlamydial heat shock protein cHSP60.