title: The Relationship between Chlamydia trachomatis Genital Infection and Spontaneous Abortion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chlamydia trachomatis is the etiology of most of sexually transmitted diseases. Colonization of C. trachomatis in the genital tract during early gestation has been associated with preterm birth, and preterm premature rupture of the membranes. The role of C. trachomatis on spontaneous abortion has not yet been proved completely. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of C. trachomatis infection among pregnant women and its association with spontaneous abortion.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study was conducted from August 2012 until January 2013. Totally, 218 women were included; 109 women with spontaneous abortion with gestation age between 10-20 weeks (cases), and 109 women with normal pregnancy with gestation age between 20-30 weeks (controls) in Sanandaj, Iran. DNA was extracted from endocervical swabs and a PCR test was conducted for detection of C. trachomatis infection in women using specific primers. Independent T-test and Chi-square were used for comparison of quantitative and qualitative variables, respectively, and p<0.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was 38(17.43%) in endocervical swabs of women. However, the number of cases with C. trachomatis infections was 25 out of 109(22.9%) in the case group and 13 out of 109(11.9%) in control group, respectively. Association between chlamydia infection and spontaneous abortion was statistically significant (OR=2.198, CI 95%: 1.058-4.56).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that C. trachomatis infection was associated with spontaneous abortion. Thus, screening and treatment of pregnant women may prevent this adverse pregnancy outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Amjad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Mazaher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khodabandehloo
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramazanzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Social Determinant of Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farhadifar
authors.affiliation: Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Daem
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roshani
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Ebrahim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghaderi
authors.affiliation: Be'sat Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Niloofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farhangi
keywords: Chlamydia trachomatis; Genital infection; Miscarriage; Pregnancy; Spontaneous abortion