Microscopic salpingitis is not an etiologic factor of tubal pregnancy with intrauterine devices.
OBJECTIVE
This prospective study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that microscopic chronic salpingitis is an etiologic factor in ectopic (tubal) pregnancy with an intrauterine device (IUD).


METHODS
Fifty consecutive patients at a university hospital operated for tubal pregnancy fulfilled strict histological diagnostic criteria for tubal pregnancy. There were no statistically significant differences in prevalence of microscopic findings of chronic inflammation in patients who never used an IUD, had a history of IUD use, or had an IUD in situ at the time of laparotomy. Salpingitis isthmica nodosa was found in four patients (30.8%) without past or present history of IUD use as compared to two patients (5.4%) with past or present history of IUD (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of an IUD does not appear to cause tubal pregnancy by the mechanism of tubal inflammation or presence of salpingitis isthmica nodosa. Therefore, other mechanisms by which an IUD might cause ectopic pregnancy should be considered.
Lurie
S
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, Israel.
Katz
Z
Z
Yechezkeli
Y
Y
Lifscitz-Mercer
B
B
Shoham
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012488:Salpingitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology