Host immune consequences of asymptomatic Trichomonas vaginalis infection in pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to define the impact of asymptomatic trichomoniasis on lower genital tract neutrophil activation in pregnancy.


METHODS
In this nested cohort study, pelvic examination was performed on 65 asymptomatic pregnant women between 7 and 22 weeks' with vaginal pH > 4.4. Concentrations of cervical interleukin-8 and alpha-defensin were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Trichomonas vaginalis was detected by culture.


RESULTS
Median concentrations of vaginal fluid neutrophil defensins and cervical interleukin-8 were significantly greater among women with asymptomatic trichomoniasis (median defensins 18,622 ng/mL, median IL-8 9244 pg/mL) than their uninfected counterparts (median defensins 5144 ng/mL, median IL-8 2044 pg/mL) (P < .001). All women with asymptomatic trichomoniasis had detectable defensin and interleukin-8 concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Asymptomatic trichomoniasis in pregnancy is accompanied by a state of neutrophil activation.
Simhan
Hyagriv N
HN
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Anderson
Brenna L
BL
Krohn
Marijane A
MA
Heine
R Phillips
RP
Martinez de Tejada
Begoña
B
Landers
Daniel V
DV
Hillier
Sharon L
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000276:immunology*; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000276:immunology*; D023084:alpha-Defensins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016209:Interleukin-8; D023084:alpha-Defensins