Oviductal cilial phagocytosis in patients undergoing tubal reanastomosis.
Chronic salpingitis has been reported in patients undergoing reversal of sterilization. For investigation of a possible microbial etiology for this process and characterization of its ultrastructural features, segments from the midportion of the fallopian tubes of five patients who underwent sterilization reversal were studied by comprehensive tubal cultures, and light and electron microscopy. Three patients undergoing sterilization by partial salpingectomy were studied as controls. Chlamydial IgG and IgM antibody titers were performed on serum samples. No microbiologic or serologic evidence for active infection by known pathogens was found. In three of the study patients mild oviductal mural fibrosis was present. However, in two other study patients chronic salpingitis with phagocytosis of cilia by luminal macrophages was demonstrated. It is suggested that if this active process persists after tubal reanastomosis, it may result in impaired oviductal function.
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002923:Cilia / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000382:microbiology; D012488:Salpingitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D013243:Sterilization Reversal; D013246:Sterilization, Tubal