J. Lan et al., CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS AND ECTOPIC PREGNANCY - RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF SALPINGECTOMY SPECIMENS, ENDOMETRIAL BIOPSIES, AND CERVICAL SMEARS, Journal of Clinical Pathology, 48(9), 1995, pp. 815-819
Aims-To examine the role of Chlamydia trachomatis in ectopic pregnancy
by detection of DNA in archival salpingectomy specimens, and in their
preceding cervical specimens and endometrial biopsies, by using the p
olymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods-Archival paraffin embedded sal
pingectomy tissues (n=48) from 37 women with ectopic pregnancy were ex
amined for the presence of C trachomatis plasmid and omp1 DNA by PCR.
In addition, preceding cervical specimens (n=58) stored either as cerv
ical cell suspensions or as archival cervical smears, and preceding en
dometrial biopsies (n=18), taken 0-5.8 years before the ectopic pregna
ncy, were examined by PCR for the presence of C trachomatis. Results-C
trachomatis DNA was detected in only one of the 48 salpingectomy spec
imens from 37 women. However, in six of the 37 women, C trachomatis DN
A was detected in the genital specimens (cenix and/or endometrial) tak
en before salpingectomy. C trachomatis infections were mostly found in
endometrial or cervical specimens taken more than three years before
ectopic pregnancy. No chlamydial DNA was found in endometrial or cervi
cal specimens taken at the same time of the ectopic pregnancy. Conclus
ions-Although no C trachomatis DNA was found in salpingectomy specimen
s, several women with ectopic pregnancy had C trachomatis infections i
n endometrial and cervical specimens in the past. This suggests that a
t least in these cases the ectopic pregnancy is a late postinflammator
y complication of an ascending C trachomatis infection resulting in a
scarred fallopian tube.