Antichlamydial antibodies in pelvic inflammatory disease.

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Abstract
The role of Chlamydia trachomatis in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) diagnosed without laparoscopy was assessed by measuring antichlamydial antibodies in the patient''s serum and by comparing the results with those in patients with uncomplicated non-specific genital infection (NSGI) and gonorrhea and in non-infected controls. A modified microimmunofluorescence test was used. Patients with severe PID had significantly more positive antichlamydial Ig[immunoglobulin]G and IgM results than did control subjects, patients with gonorrhea and patients with NSGI. Less severe PID was associated with significantly raised levels of antichlamydial IgG antibodies compared with NSGI and controls with raised levels of IgM antibodies compared with controls. Two patients with PID had lower genital tract gonorrhea, 1 of whom had raised antichlamydial antibody levels. These findings may indicate a mixed infection and therapy should be reviewed in such patients. Serological diagnosis of chlamydial infection is relatively easy, cheap and rapid.