Chlamydia antibody response in healthy volunteers immunized with nonchlamydial antigens: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Author(s): Johnsen S, Andersen PL, Stanek G, Christiansen G, Birkelund S, Berthelsen LM, Ostergaard L

Affiliation(s): Research Unit Q, Department of Infectious Diseases, Skejby Sygehus, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. oes@sks.aaa.dk

Publication date & source: 2003-03-01, Clin Infect Dis., 36(5):586-91. Epub 2003 Feb 18.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

Serological analysis is often used for the diagnosis of chlamydial infections. However, an increase in Chlamydia antibodies has been reported in patients with parvovirus and Mycoplasma infections. Whether this antibody response is the result of dual infection or nonchlamydial antigen stimulation is unknown. In a randomized study, 48 healthy volunteers either were immunized against yellow fever, polio, diphtheria, and tetanus (the group receiving intervention with nonchlamydial antigen) or received saline injections (the placebo group). The change in antibody levels was compared between the 2 groups. The Chlamydia recombinant lipopolysaccharide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Medac) showed an increase in the antibody titer in the intervention group, compared with that in the control group (for immunoglobulin M, P=.004; for immunoglobulin A, P=.038; and for immunoglobulin G, P=.056), but no differences between study groups was found when the C. pneumoniae enzyme immunoassay (EIA; ThermoLabsystems), the C. pneumoniae EIA (Medac), and the microimmunofluorescence test (MRL) were used. An increase in antibodies to Chlamydia organisms can be measured after exposure to nonchlamydial antigens, depending on the test used.