IgA antichlamydia antibodies as a diagnostic tool for monitoring of active chlamydial infection.

Chlamydia trachomatis isolation in culture is the best means of chlamydial infection diagnosis. Antichlamydial antibodies, if present, may also serve as diagnostic markers. In eleven patients with positive C. trachomatis culture and serological positive response, specific IgA and IgG antibody titers were measured before and after treatment. In all cases, cultures became negative after treatment and IgA titers decreased rapidly, while IgG levels remained high. Thus, presence of specific IgA antibodies in a single sample may serve as a diagnostic tool for monitoring of active chlamydial infection.