Possible role of bacterial and viral infections in miscarriages.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the role of infections in miscarriages. Chorionic villi from aborted material were subjected to cytogenetic evaluation and analyzed for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), adeno-associated virus (AAV), and human papillomaviruses (HPV).


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
University hospital and academic research institution.


METHODS
Karyotyping and detection of bacterial and viral DNA by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in placenta specimens.


RESULTS
In 54 (50%) of 108 samples the karyotype was normal, in 38 (35%) samples it was abnormal, and in 16 (15%) samples karyotype was undetermined. No U. urealyticum, M. hominis, HCMV, or AAV-2 DNA was detected, while C. trachomatis DNA was detected in one (1%) and HPV DNA in eight (7%) samples. No significant correlation of HPV-positive findings with karyotype status was established.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings do not support a role of C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum, M. hominis, HCMV, or AAV infections in miscarriages during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, further investigation should be made to determine a possible involvement of HPVs in the development of genetic abnormalities of the fetus and in miscarriages.
Matovina
Mihaela
M
Division of Molecular Medicine, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
Husnjak
Koraljka
K
Milutin
Nina
N
Ciglar
Srecko
S
Grce
Magdalena
M
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004279:DNA, Viral