Endometrial plasma cells: do they indicate subclinical pelvic inflammatory disease?
BACKGROUND
Subclinical pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common condition among women with lower genital tract infection and is believed to be responsible for a greater proportion of PID-related sequelae than acute PID. Subclinical PID is diagnosed histologically after endometrial biopsy. In the literature, many different histologic criteria have been used to define subclinical PID.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if endometrial plasma cells are commonly found in women at low likelihood of PID.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 33 women undergoing tubal ligation and at low likelihood of PID was performed. At the time of tubal ligation, study participants underwent visualization of pelvic organs and an endometrial biopsy, which was analyzed for the presence of neutrophils and plasma cells. Demographic, clinical, and microbiologic data were compared among women with and without endometrial plasma cells.


RESULTS
Endometrial plasma cells were identified in one third (33%) of the asymptomatic, fertile, healthy women in our cohort. The presence of plasma cells was not associated with lower genital tract infection, including bacterial vaginosis. Laparoscopic evidence of fallopian tube damage was similar in patients with and without endometrial plasma cells (22% in each group).


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma cells are commonly found in the endometria of healthy women and may not represent upper genital tract inflammation.
Achilles
Sharon L
SL
School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Amortegui
Antonio J
AJ
Wiesenfeld
Harold C
HC
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence