The human leucocyte antigen (HLA) DR expression and the distribution of T-lymphocytes in the fimbriae of the normal fallopian tube and during pelvic adhesion disease.

PROBLEM: Systematically to investigate the expression of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) DR on the columnar epithelium and the content of T-lymphocytes in the fimbriae specimens of the fallopian tube from healthy women and from women with infertility and pelvic adhesions.

METHOD: The staining of HLA-DR expression on the columnar epithelium was judged on a four-graded scale according to the distribution of HLA-DR expression. The amount and distribution of T-lymphocytes were registered.

RESULTS

The biopsies from normal fimbriae contained sparsely infiltrating T-lymphocytes. On the columnar epithelial cells a patchy HLA-DR expression was observed that was more widespread in preovulatory cases. In some biopsies from sactosalpinx, the HLA-DR expression was found completely to cover the columnar epithelial cells and was associated with a heavy infiltration of T-lymphocytes. CD4+ T-lymphocytes dominated in all but one adhesion biopsies.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate an ongoing immunological activity in pelvic adhesions that might immunologically influence fertility.