Chlamydia trachomatis antibody and DNA determination in ectopic pregnancy in Trinidad

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of C. trachomatis in ectopic pregnancy by serum IgG and IgM antibody and by chlamydia DNA in endometrial, Fallopian tube and ovarian tissues. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 32 women presenting with tubal ectopic pregnancy and 94 fertile controls. Methods employed were ELISA for IgG and IgM and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH) for DNA. RESULTS: Chlamydial IgG and IgM antibody detection was higher in the ectopic than the control groups (IgG, p<0.01; IgM, p<0.01). A similar finding was also noted for chlamydia DNA by PCR (p<0.05). DNA detection was also significantly higher at each site in the upper genital tract (endometrium p<0.01, Fallopian tube p<0.05, ovary p<0.05). CONCLUSION: By antibody detection, this study confirms the role played by genital tract C. trachoma infection and subsequently ectopic pregnancy, but more importantly, identifies chlamydial DNA in upper genital tract tissues. These results support allocation of resources towards screening programmes for C. trachomatis.(Au)