RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate serum chlamydia antibody titers (CATs) in tubal occlusion or previous ectopic pregnancy and the associated risk factors. METHODS: The study population consisted of 55 women wih tubal damage and 55 parous women. CAT was measured using the whole-cell inclusion immunofluorescence test and cervical chlamydial DNA detected by PCR. Odds ratios were calculated to assess variables associated with C. trachomatis infection. RESULTS: The prevalence of chlamydial antibodies and antibody titers in women with tubal occlusion or previous ectopic pregnancy was significantly higher (P < .01) than in parous women. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that chlamydia IgG antibodies were associated with tubal damage and with a larger number of lifetime sexual partners. CONCLUSIONS: Chlamydia antibody titers were associated with tubal occlusion, prior ectopic pregnancy, and with sexual behavior, suggesting that a chlamydia infection was the major contributor to the tubal damage in these women.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Antibacterianos/sangue , Infecções por Chlamydia/complicações , Infecções por Chlamydia/epidemiologia , Chlamydia trachomatis/imunologia , Doenças das Tubas Uterinas/microbiologia , Gravidez Ectópica/microbiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Brasil/epidemiologia , Infecções por Chlamydia/imunologia , Infecções por Chlamydia/microbiologia , Doenças das Tubas Uterinas/epidemiologia , Doenças das Tubas Uterinas/imunologia , Tubas Uterinas/patologia , Feminino , Humanos , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Modelos Logísticos , Gravidez , Gravidez Ectópica/epidemiologia , Gravidez Ectópica/imunologia , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Comportamento SexualRESUMO
In order to determine the prevalence and risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in adolescent females and young women in central Brazil, 296 subjects attending two public health services were evaluated. The overall prevalence of C. trachomatis infection, as determined using polymerase chain reaction, was 19.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.3-24.7). In multivariate analysis, young age (odds ratio [OR]adjusted 2.32, 95%CI 1.1-4.8, p<0.05) and having 2-3 (ORadjusted 3.41, 95%CI 1.6-6.3, p<0.05) or >or=4 sexual partners in life (ORadjusted 3.10, 95%CI 1.1-6.3, p<0.05) were factors significantly associated with chlamydial infection. In conclusion, the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was high in the studied population and risk factors were related to age and sexual behavior.