Chlamydia trachomatis infection, Fallopian tube damage and a mannose-binding lectin codon 54 gene polymorphism.

BACKGROUND: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL), a component of the innate immune system, provides a first-line defense against invading microorganisms. Polymorphisms in the MBL gene have been associated with increased risk of infection. Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infections are a major cause of Fallopian tube occlusion. Our objective was to test whether an MBL codon 54 polymorphism might contribute to development of C. trachomatis-associated tubal damage. METHODS: In a case-control study, 97 women with occluded and 104 women with patent Fallopian tubes were tested for a history of chlamydial infection by serology and for their MBL codon 54 genotype by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Clinical data were blinded to those performing all laboratory analyses. RESULTS: Women with tubal occlusion who also had a positive chlamydial serology had the highest rate of variant MBL B allele carriage (P<0.001). Among women who were chlamydial antibody negative, allele B carriage was also more frequent in those with blocked, as opposed to patent, Fallopian tubes (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Wild-type allele A homozygosity is protective against, while carriage of the variant allele B is a risk factor for, Fallopian tube occlusion in women who are seropositive or seronegative for C. trachomatis.

Serological responses of patients with ectopic pregnancy to epitopes of the Chlamydia trachomatis 60 kDa heat shock protein.

Clinical and histopathological correlations of immunoreactivity to Chlamydia trachomatis and to epitopes of the C. trachomatis 60 kDa heat shock protein (hsp60) among women with ectopic pregnancy were evaluated in a case-control study. Serological responses to 13 synthetic peptides corresponding to major epitopes of the chlamydial hsp60 were determined in 67 women treated for ectopic pregnancy and 45 women with uncomplicated pregnancy in utero. Plasma cell salpingitis was detected in 29 (43.3%) of the ectopic patients. Its presence correlated with antibodies to two hsp60 epitopes, encompassing amino acids 260-271 and 411-422 (P = 0.02). Antibodies to these two epitopes, along with five other epitopes, also correlated with peritubal adhesion formation in ectopic pregnant patients (P < 0.01). Antibodies to epitopes 260-271 and 188-199 also correlated with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID; P = 0.05). Patients with ectopic pregnancy were also more likely than their intrauterine pregnant controls to have present anti-chlamydial immunoglobulin G (P < 0.005). Women positive for both C. trachomatis and hsp60 epitope antibodies had an increased prevalence over controls of salpingitis, pelvic adhesions or history of PID (P < 0.05). In contrast, patients who were positive for only C. trachomatis antibodies or only hsp60 epitope antibodies did not differ from antibody-negative patients in each of these categories.

[Incidence and mortality of extrauterine pregnancy in Hungary (1931-1995)]. / A méhen kívüli terhesség gyakoriságának és mortalitásának alakulása Magyarországon (1931-1995).

The authors report on the changing incidence of and maternal mortality from ectopic pregnancies in Hungary between 1931 and 1995. Data of reported pregnancies were obtained from the National Institute of Statistics and the Hungarian College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Incidence of ectopic pregnancy was calculated as rates per 1000 live births and per 1000 reported pregnancies including live births, legally induced abortions, miscarriages, and ectopic pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancy-associated maternal mortality was examined in terms of case fatality rate and also as a proportion to the total number of pregnancy-associated maternal deaths. From 1931, when national surveillance for pregnancy begun in Hungary, to 1995, the rate per 1000 reported live births tripled from 3.4 to 11.9. Similarly, the rate of ectopic pregnancies per 1000 reported pregnancies increased by 190% from 3.7 to 6.4. In the last decade of the period studied, its proportion in the annual number of fetal deaths increased to 8.0%. Ectopic pregnancy-associated maternal deaths decreased sharply from 1931 through the late 1980's. In the last decade, its average value was 16 per 10.000 reported ectopic pregnancies. However, case fatality rate of ectopic pregnancy is still highest compared to any of the other obstetric events including induced and spontaneous abortions, and deliveries. Over the last decade, maternal deaths resulting from ectopic gestation represented 8.7% of the total maternal mortality rate. Given the increasing incidence of ectopic pregnancy together with a substantial proportion in pregnancy-related maternal mortality, study of etiology, and appropriate preventive measures are urgently needed.