ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Comparison of four different assays for routine diagnosis of urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infections. METHODS: Samples from 285 female patients were tested using each of the following tests: PCR (Amplicor Chlamydia trachomatis), ELFA (VIDAS Chlamydia), cell culture and direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA). RESULTS: C. trachomatis was detected by PCR in 13 endocervical swab specimens obtained from 189 female patients (6.9%). Among 13 PCR-positive samples, 10 tested positive by cell culture and DFA, and 8 were positive by ELFA. For 3 patients with pregnancy-related complications, a positive result was obtained by PCR only. Each of the 96 urethral swabs proved to be negative. CONCLUSIONS: PCR is more sensitive than cell culture, DFA and ELFA, especially in the context of C. trachomatis infection during pregnancy. In addition and in order to avoid false-negative PCR results, a careful collection of epithelial cells infected with C. trachomatis is imperative.
Subject(s)
Chlamydia Infections/diagnosis , Chlamydia trachomatis/isolation & purification , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/diagnosis , Urethritis/diagnosis , Vaginitis/diagnosis , Adult , Cells, Cultured , Chlamydia Infections/microbiology , Chlamydia trachomatis/genetics , Epithelium/microbiology , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct , Humans , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/microbiology , Urethritis/microbiology , Vaginal Smears , Vaginitis/microbiologyABSTRACT
78 cases of double kidneys without vesico-uretero-renal reflux, in which a heminephrectomy was done, were histologically investigated. The histopathological results were compared with the clinic and the urogram. It could be demonstrated that the results did not correspond in some cases. As a consequence of these discrepancies, we conclude that intravenous urography is not sufficient to indicate a primary heminephrectomy. Therefore, additional studies, such as a diethylenetriaminopentaacetate-T-99m scintigram and a preoperative kidney biopsy under sonographic control, are suggested.