Chlamydial antibodies and deoxyribonucleic acid in patients with ectopic pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the importance of previous and persisting chlamydial infection for ectopic pregnancy (EP).


METHODS
A prospective study of women with EP.


METHODS
Hospitalized patients.


METHODS
Eighty-six women with EP with (group I; n = 35) or without (group II; n = 51) risk factors for EP and chlamydial infection. Age-matched normally pregnant women served as controls.


METHODS
Blood samples were drawn from patients and controls for antibody determination.


METHODS
The frequency of immunoglobulin G antibodies was compared between patients and controls, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect chlamydial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in tubal tissue from 33 patients (70 specimens).


RESULTS
Immunoglobulin G antibodies (titer greater than or equal to 32) were significantly more common among patients than in controls (51% versus 31%, P less than 0.025). The difference was more pronounced between group I and controls (69% versus 31%, P less than 0.005). Chlamydial DNA was not detected in any tubal specimen.


CONCLUSIONS
An association was found between previous chlamydial infection (serologically) and EP, especially in women with risk factors, but no evidence of persisting chlamydial infection in the tubes could be demonstrated using PCR.
Osser
S
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
Persson
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000382:microbiology; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides