P17.01: Yield of invasive diagnostic procedures by indications

Abstract

Objectives: Chlamydia trachomatis is common among young and sexually active people. Most often infections are asymptomatic but have potential long-term consequences for the reproductive health. The pathogenesis of tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP) in the context of chlamydia trachomatis infection is poorly understood. We aimed to study whether chlamydia trachomatis is absent or persists in a latent state in the fallopian tube at the time of laparoscopy for tubal EP. Methods: We examined tissue of the fallopian tubes for the presence of chlamydia trachomatis from women who underwent laparoscopic salpingectomy for EP. Results: Fresh tubal tissue from 16 women with histological confirmation of EP were examined in a hospital setting for the presence of chlamydia trachomatis. The presence of chlamydia trachomatis DNA was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a commercial test (BD ProbeTecTM ET System) and a real-time enhanced PCR able to detect few copies of the organism. Chlamydial DNA was detected in 0 of the 15 tubal specimens. In 1 case the PCR analysis was not possible for presence of inhibitors. Conclusions: We did not find any evidence of latent infection of chlamydia trachomatis in the fallopian tube at the time of laparoscopy for EP in our study. This suggests that EP can be considered a late complication of the tubal damage resulted from a previous acute chlamydia infection, and that EP may not be related to a latent persistence of chlamydia in the fallopian tube.