Age and clinical immunity to infections with Chlamydia trachomatis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The prevalence of chlamydial infection decreases with age possibly in part because of increasing immunity.

GOAL OF THIS STUDY

To determine whether increased age is an independent predictor of decreased chlamydial infection and whether chlamydia-specific antibody titer and blastogenesis increase with age.

STUDY DESIGN

Data from all patients cultured for Chlamydia trachomatis between January 1984 and August 1989 were examined and multiple logistic regression models were used to identify the independent predictors of culture positivity. Antichlamydial antibody titer and chlamydia-specific blastogenesis were examined for a subset of patients for correlation with age.

RESULTS

Young age was found to be predictive of chlamydial infection independent of all factors examined in men and women. Antibody titers had no relation to age (n = 245) whereas the level of blastogenesis correlated only weakly with age (n = 155).

CONCLUSIONS

Assays of systemic immunity do not reflect the protection from chlamydial infection associated with age.