Female genital tuberculosis in Ethiopia.
OBJECTIVE
To study the occurrence of female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) in Ethiopia and to compare the different methods available for its diagnosis.


METHODS
Biopsy or curettage samples from 25 clinically suspected cases of FGTB were investigated with histopathology, smear microscopy, TB culture and PCR for mycobacteria. HIV status was determined by ELISA. CD4:CD8 ratio was evaluated by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Among the 25 clinically suspected patients investigated, only one was AFB smear positive, three were culture positive, seven were histology positive and 12 were positive by PCR (a total of 16 positives). Samples taken from the fallopian tube were more frequently positive than those from the endometrium.


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that FGTB is a significant clinical problem in Ethiopia. A combination of PCR with the other available methods was found to be the best alternative to achieve sufficient sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of FGTB in this setting.
Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. markosabebe@yahoo.com
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Abebe
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Lakew
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Kidane
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Lakew
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Kiros
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Harboe
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014384:Tuberculosis, Female Genital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C093276:ESAT-6 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis