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Antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in patients presenting with ectopic pregnancy at Groote Schuur Hospital
S K Tregoning1, R C Ballard, P B Andersson
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cape Town.
Objectives:
To determine the prevalence of antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis in women presenting with ectopic pregnancies to Groote Schuur Hospital.
Methods:
C. trachomatis antibody titres were measured using a modified micro-immunofluorescence test in women presenting with ectopic pregnancy. Control subjects were drawn from women with term pregnancies and an uneventful reproductive history.
Results:
Seventy-four patients and controls were studied. Demographic variables were controlled for at time of entry into the study. A significant association between the number of lifetime sexual partners and exposure to C. trachomatis was noted (P = 0.001). Patients with ectopic pregnancies had significantly higher antibody titres than control subjects (P = 0.001), and in both groups the prevalence of background antichlamydial antibody was high (ectopic pregnancies 59%, pregnant controls 32%).
Conclusions:
While the role of C. trachomatis infection in women who develop ectopic pregnancies needs to be explored further, it seems wise to treat them all with empirical antibiotics at the time of presentation.