ANTI-Chlamydia trachomatis SECRETORY IgA DETECTION IN A VENEZUELAN INFERTILE WOMEN POPULATION DETECCIÓN DE IgA SECRETORA ANTI-Chlamydia trachomatis EN UNA POBLACIÓN DE MUJERES INFÉRTILES VENEZOLANAS

Importance of microorganisms that cause sexually transmitted diseases associated to infertility in many couples have been remarked in several epidemiological and clinical studies. Chlamydia trachomatis is a frequent agent of sexual transmission of the female genital tract that can induce a persistent local immunological reaction causing tissue damage, provoking obstruction of Fallopian tubes altering the normal transport and nurture of gametes and therefore producing infertility. In sexually active Venezuelan women, either asymptomatic or symptomatic for genital infection, prevalence of C. trachomatis, estimated by several methods, ranges between 9% and 35%. But prevalence of anti C trachomatis secretory IgA in cervical mucus. from infertile women has not been studied. The aim of this study was to detect secretory IgA antiC. trachomatis in cervical mucus samples from Venezuelan women and its possible relationship with female infertility. Secretory IgA was assessed using an indirect immune enzymatic assay of solid phase. Eleven out thirty-eight studied patients (29%) had antecedents of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), 21% of spontaneous abortion, 5.2% of ectopic pregnancy and 7.8% showed signs and symptoms of blennorrhagia. IgA Antibodies anti-C. trachomatis were not identified in cervical mucus in studied patients. However, to discard the presence of these antibodies in the cervical mucus is convenient after genital infection, as a cause of female factor for infertility. Key-words: Chlamydia trachomatis, secretory IgA, cervical mucus.