Infecção por Chlamydia em pacientes com e sem lesões intra-epiteliais cervicais / Chlamydia infection in patients with and without cervical intra-epithelial lesions

OBJETIVOS: Determinar a freqüência de infecção por Chlamydia trachomatis em pacientes com e sem lesões intra-epiteliais cervicais atendidas em ambulatório especializado no Recife (2007), e sua associação com variáveis biológicas, demográficas, hábitos, características reprodutivas e clínico-ginecológicas. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se um estudo do tipo corte transversal, incluindo 70 mulheres (35 com alterações citológicas e 35 normais). Realizaram-se colposcopia, biópsia quando necessário e pesquisa para Chlamydia trachomatis por Imunofluorescência Direta. As variáveis analisadas foram idade, raça, procedência, escolaridade, estado civil, menarca, idade da primeira relação sexual, paridade, número de parceiros, corrimento, realização de citologia prévia, episódios de DST, eletrocauterização, método contraceptivo, antecedente familiar de câncer uterino, consumo alcoólico, tabagismo, drogas ilícitas e imunossupressoras, resultado da citologia e infecção cervical por Chlamydia trachomatis. Para determinação da força da associação, calculou-se a Razão de Prevalência (RP) e o intervalo de confiança 95 por cento, realizando-se análise multivariada para controle das variáveis potencialmente confundidoras. RESULTADOS: A freqüência de infecção por Chlamydia trachomatis foi significativamente maior em pacientes com alterações citológicas (80 por cento vs. 14,3 por cento), com uma RP de 5,60 (IC 95 por cento = 2,44 - 12,82). Analisando os fatores associados à infecção por Chlamydia , a única variável que persistiu significativamente associada após análise multivariada foi a história pregressa de DST (OR=63,47; IC 95 por cento = 13,93 - 289,09). CONCLUSÃO: A presença da Chlamydia trachomatis está associada às alterações citológicas da cérvice uterina, e a história pregressa de DST deve ser valorizada no tratamento e seguimento clínico destas pacientes.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in patients with and without intraepithelial cervical lesions attended at specialized ambulatory in Recife (2007) and its association with biologic and demographic variables, habits, reproductive, clinical and gynecologic characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted including 70 women (35 with cytological cervical lesions and 35 with normal smears). Colposcopy and biopsy when necessary were performed and Chlamydia infection was determined by direct immunofluorescence. Analysis variables were age, race, precedence, schooling, marital status, menarche, age at first sexual intercourse, parity, number of sexual partners, vaginal discharge, previous Pap smear, STD episodes, cervical cauterization, contraceptive methods, familial antecedents of cervical cancer, alcohol intake, use of illicit and immunosuppressive drugs, Papanicolaou result and cervical Chlamydia l infection. To determine the strength of association prevalence ratio (PR) and its 95 percent confidence interval were calculated. Multivariate analysis was performed for controlling potentially confounding variables. RESULTS: the frequency of Chlamydia l infection was significantly greater in patients with intraepithelial cervical lesions (80.0 percent vs. 14.3 percent; PR = 5.60; 95 percent CI = 2,44 - 12,82). When the factors associated with Chlamydia l infection were analyzed, the only variable that remained significantly associated after multivariate analysis was previous episode of STD (OR=63,47; 95 percent CI = 13,93 - 289,09). CONCLUSION: Chlamydia trachomatis infection is associated with intraepithelial cervical lesions and history of STD should be considered for treatment and follow-up of these patients.

Chlamydia infection in patients with and without cervical intra-epithelial lesions tested by real-time PCR vs. direct immunofluorescence

This study compares the detection rates of Chlamydia trachomatis by two techniques, direct immunofluorescence (IMF) and real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in patients with and without intra-epithelial cervical lesions (SIL) in Recife. We conducted a transversal study involving 35 women with SIL and 35 without SIL attended at Ambulatório Especializado da Mulher, Recife, Brazil. They were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis using two techniques, direct IMF or real time PCR. The rates of Chlamydia trachomatis detection were compared and the association with intra-epithelial cervical lesions was determined using the chi-square test at a 5 percent level of significance. Concordance between the tests was evaluated using kappa. The global prevalence of Chlamydia infection was 47.1 percent by direct IMF and 58.6 percent by real time PCR. A significant association was observed between Chlamydia diagnosis and presence of intra-epithelial cervical lesions, with about 80 percent positive results by direct IMF and 77.1 percent by real time PCR. However, the detected rate of infection with Chlamydia trachomatis was significantly greater in patients without intra-epithelial cervical lesions tested by real time PCR (40 percent) when compared to direct IMF (14.3 percent). The concordance between the tests was weak, with a kappa coefficient of 0.4. Both real time PCR and direct IMF detected elevated rates of Chlamydia infection in patients with intra-epithelial cervical lesions (80 percent) but the tests were discordant when patients without cervical lesions were tested, possibly because sensitivity of real time PCR is greater.