Perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with chlamydial infection: a meta-analysis study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of Chlamydia trachomatis infection during pregnancy on perinatal morbidity and mortality.


METHODS
Systematic review and meta-analysis in an electronic database and manual, combining high sensitivity specific descriptors seeking to answer the research objective. The articles considered to be of high methodological quality (score above 6 on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale) were assessed by meta-analysis.


RESULTS
Summary estimates of 12 studies were calculated by means of Mantel-Haenszel test with 95% confidence interval. It was observed that Chlamydia infection during pregnancy increased risk of preterm labor (relative risk (RR) = 1.35 [1.11, 1.63]), low birth weight (RR = 1.52 [1.24, 1.87]) and perinatal mortality (RR = 1.84 [1.15, 2.94]). No evidence of increased risk was associated with Chlamydia infection in regard to premature rupture of membranes (RR = 1.13 [0.95, 1.34]), abortion and postpartum endometritis (RR = 1.20 [0.65, 2.20] and 0.89 [0.49, 1.61] respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnosis and treatment of Chlamydia cervicitis during pregnancy can reduce perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with this infection. However, clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte.
Maria José Penna Maisonnette de Attayde
MJ
Silva
Gilzandra Lira Dantas
GL
Florêncio
José Roberto Erbolato
JR
Gabiatti
Rose Luce do
RL
Amaral
José
J
Eleutério Júnior
Ana Katherine da Silveira
AK
Gonçalves
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000382:microbiology; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D004716:Endometritis / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000382:microbiology; D054238:Perinatal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors; D002575:Uterine Cervicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality*