DOES ADDITION OF ANTIINFLAMMATORY AGENTS TO ANTIMICROBIAL THERAPY REDUCE INFERTILITY AFTER MURINE CHLAMYDIAL SALPINGITIS

Background and Objectives: Infertility after murine chlamydial salping itis can be prevented by tetracycline treatment given before or at the time of infection. This study evaluates the efficacy and timing of te tracycline treatment and anti-inflammatory agents in the prevention of inflammation and subsequent infertility. Study Design: The left ovari an bursae and uterine horns were inoculated with the mouse pneumonitis strain of Chlamydia trachomatis. Mice were mated 54 days after inocul ation. Results: Infected mice treated with tetracycline beginning 2 da ys after infection showed mild inflammation and no significant reducti on in fertility. However, when tetracycline treatment was delayed unti l 5 days after infection, a moderate degree of inflammation and a sign ificant reduction in fertility (P<0.01) was noted. Treatment with ibup rofen, prostaglandin E1 (PGE-1), or hydrocortisone beginning day 2 pos t-inoculation did not significantly alter the degree of inflammation o r subsequent fertility. Mean anti-chlamydial IgG titers were significa ntly lower in mice treated with either PGE1 or hydrocortisone compared with infected, untreated mice. Conclusion:These results indicate that while early treatment of chlamydial salpingitis may prevent infertili ty, delay in treatment may result in significant inflammatory damage a nd infertility. There was no apparent benefit from the addition of ant i-inflammatory agents.