The value of negative Chlamydia trachomatis antibody in prediction of normal tubes in infertile women.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the value of Chlamydia trachomatis antibody testing in prediction of at least one normal tube in infertile women.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Eighty infertile women without any history of abdominal or pelvic surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease, and endometriosis were recruited in this cross-sectional study from 2009 to 2010. The patients underwent hysterosalpingography, laparoscopy, and anti Chlamydia trachomatis IgG antibody (CAT) testing. We compared laparoscopy findings and CAT regarding sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and predicting value of tubal conditions.

RESULTS

The CAT was positive in 50 patients (62.5%) and laparoscopy was positive in 32 patients (40%). The CAT was significantly higher in women with tubal disease (1.88 +/- 0.34) versus in women with normal tubes (1.21 +/- 0.28) (p = 0.003). Five out of 30 sero-negative women had unilateral tubal abnormality and none of them had bilateral tubal obstruction or severe pelvic adhesion. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and accuracy of the CAT in prediction of one normal tube were 100%, 42.25%, 18%, 100%, and 48.75%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The negative predictive value of CAT to predict at least one normal tube in infertile women without history of abdominal or pelvic surgery, pelvic inflammatory disease, and endometriosis was 100%.