Role of Chlamydia trachomatis in miscarriage

Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Sep;17(9):1630-5. doi: 10.3201/eid1709.100865.

Abstract

To determine the role of Chlamydia trachomatis in miscarriage, we prospectively collected serum, cervicovaginal swab specimens, and placental samples from 386 women with and without miscarriage. Prevalence of immunoglobulin G against C. trachomatis was higher in the miscarriage group than in the control group (15.2% vs. 7.3%; p = 0.018). Association between C. trachomatis-positive serologic results and miscarriage remained significant after adjustment for age, origin, education, and number of sex partners (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.1-4.9). C. trachomatis DNA was more frequently amplified from products of conception or placenta from women who had a miscarriage (4%) than from controls (0.7%; p = 0.026). Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed C. trachomatis in placenta from 5 of 7 patients with positive PCR results, whereas results of immunohistochemical analysis were negative in placenta samples from all 8 negative controls tested. Associations between miscarriage and serologic/molecular evidence of C. trachomatis infection support its role in miscarriage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / etiology
  • Abortion, Spontaneous / immunology
  • Abortion, Spontaneous / microbiology*
  • Adult
  • Chlamydia Infections / complications*
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / genetics
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / immunology
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / isolation & purification*
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Placenta / microbiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Prospective Studies
  • Regression Analysis

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial