PRESENCE OF THE MAJOR OUTER-MEMBRANE PROTEIN OF CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATISIN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC SALPINGITIS AND SALPINGITIS ISTHMICA NODOSA WITH TUBAL OCCLUSION

Objective: To determine the presence of the major outer-membrane prote in of Chlamydia trachomatis in fallopian tube tissue specimens of infe rtile women with chronic salpingitis and/or salpingitis isthmica nodos a with tubal occlusion. Design: Prospective controlled study. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Bochum, Herne, Germany. Patient(s): Fifty-six consecutive infertile women with histo logically documented chronic salpingitis and/or salpingitis isthmica n odosa and bilateral tubal occlusions were evaluated. They were compare d with 28 fertile women. Intervention(s): Fallopian tube tissue specim ens were taken juring reconstructive infertility surgery, including ce sarean section and tubal ligation. Main Outcome Measure(s): Detection of the major outer-membrane protein of C. trachomatis in fallopian tub e tissue specimens by a direct fluorescent antibody test. Result(s): T he major outer-membrane protein of C. trachomatis was found in fallopi an tube tissue specimens in 11 of 56 infertile patients (20%) with chr onic salpingitis and/or salpingitis isthmica nodosa. The median titer of IgG serum antibodies to Chlamydia was significantly higher in women with the major outer-membrane protein of C. trachomatis than in patie nts without this antigen. In comparison, the major outer-membrane prot ein of C, trachomatis was not found in any of the fallopian tube tissu e specimens of the control group. Conclusion(s): The presence of the m ajor outer-membrane protein of C. trachomatis is associated with chron ic salpingitis and/or salpingitis isthmica nodosa with tubal occlusion . (Fertil Steril(R) 1998;70:774-6. (C) 1998 by American Society for Re productive Medicine.).