Summary
In the majority of women, Chlamydia trachomatis infections
remain asymptomatic. These unrecognized and untreated infections
may increase the risk for tubal factor subfertility at a later age.
Since the association between C. trachomatis IgG antibodies in
serum and tubal pathology was noticed, C. trachomatis IgG antibody
testing has been used as a screening test for tubal factor
subfertility. The diagnostic accuracy of C. trachomatis IgG
antibody testing is limited, however. Since women who have
persistent chlamydia infections are considered to be at the highest
risk for developing late sequelae, the predictive value of markers
of persistent infections have been studied in subfertile women.
Patients who had C. trachomatis IgG antibodies (as markers of a
previous infection), and an elevated C-reactive protein within the
normal range (as a marker of a persisting infection) had the
highest risk for having tubal pathology. © 2006 Prous Science. All
rights reserved.