IgG and IgA antibodies specific for Chlamydia trachomatis in acute epididymitis

The possibility of using elevated Chlamydia trachomatis-specific serum IgG and IgA as a screening test for Chlamydia-associated epididymitis was analyzed in 29 acute epididymitis patients and 42 apparently healthy men by the single antigen (L₂) immunoperoxidase assay. The prevalence rates of C. trachomatis IgG antibody titer ≥ 64 and elevated C. trachomatis IgG titers (≥ 128) were significantly higher in the epididymitis patients (75 vs. 40%, p < 0.01, and 39 vs. 14%, p < 0.025, respectively) than in controls. The prevalence rate of C. trachomatis IgA antibodies (titer ≥ 8) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in epididymitis patients as compared to controls (46 vs. 10%, respectively). The potential application of elevated serum C. trachomatis IgG and IgA antibodies as a noninvasive screening marker in epididymitis patients is discussed.