Chlamydia trachomatis infection in male infertility--the clinical usefulness of the detection of antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis]

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to investigate the clinical usefulness of the detection of antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) in potential male infertility patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Analysis of serum samples for the presence of antibodies against C. trachomatis by enzyme immunoassay was performed in 83 male infertility patients. RESULTS: Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and G (IgG)-antibodies against C. trachomatis were found in 16 and 10 of 83 serum samples (19.3 and 12.0%) respectively. IgA and/or IgG-antibodies against C. trachomatis were found in 20 of 83 serum samples (24.1%). Serum IgA, IgG, or IgA and/or IgG positive patients showed increased semen and urine leukocytes numbers and reduced semen volume and sperm numbers, compared with negative patients, respectively, although these effects are not statistically significant. By Spearman's correlation analysis, however, significant positive correlations with serum IgA or IgG antibody index were found in semen and urine leukocytes numbers. Significant negative correlations with serum IgA antibody index was found in semen volume. In serum IgA positive patients, only 1 of 8 first-voided urine samples was positive for C. trachomatis-DNA by PCR. Moreover, the positive rates of surum IgA antibody and cervical antigen in the 8 female partners of IgA positive patients were only 25% (2 of 8 serum samples) and 12.5% (1 of 8 cervical specimens) respectively. CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence (24.1%) of serum IgA and/or IgG-antibodies against C. trachomatis from infertility patients. The existance of antibodies against C. trachomatis in serum samples possibly influence semen quality, suggesting that C. trachomatis infection may play an important role in male infertility.