| Popis: |
In developing countries, data about the prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections and their sequelae, tubal infertility and premature rupture of membrane is scarce. A prospective case-control study was performed enrolling 491 Ghanaian women. The first case group included 191 patients with primary or secondary infertility, the second case group included 52 pregnant women with premature rupture of membrane. The control group consisted of 248 healthy pregnant women. First-void urine samples were investigated by PCR, and serum specimens were tested for C. trachomatis-specific IgG and IgA antibodies. Demographic and behavioral information were gathered for statistical analysis. The PCR prevalence of C. trachomatis was relatively low and did not differ significantly among all groups (2.4 versus 1.6 % versus 1,9 %). In contrast, significantly higher prevalences of specific IgG (39 % versus 19 %) and IgA (14 % versus 3 %) antibodies were found among infertile women. There were no difference in the prevalences of specific IgG (17 % versus 19 %) and IgA (4 % versus 3 %) between the group of pregnant women with premature rupture of membrance and the control group. Our data suggest that previous C. trachomatis infections may contribute to infertility in Ghanaian women. We could not demonstrate a correlation between a chlamydial infection and a premature rupture of membrance. |
