[Association between early miscarriage and Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Aguascalientes, Mexico].

BACKGROUND

Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women has been strongly associated with early membrane rupture and pre-term labor; however, the evidence linking Chlamydia trachomatis infection and early miscarriage is inconsistent.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if there is an association between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and early abortion in a group of women from Aguascalientes, Mexico.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

108 early abortion product samples were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction technique, along with 42 samples that belonged to 42 patients with a normal pregnancy, in order to determine the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis. The strength of association between early abortion and Chlamydia trachomatis infection was measured with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Chlamydia trachomatis infection was positive in 39 of 150 patients (26%), in 37 of 108 women with early abortion (34%) and in two of 42 of women with uneventful control pregnancies (4.7%) (p = 0.002). We observed a positive association between the risk of early miscarriage and Chlamydia trachomatis infection (OR = 10.42, 95% CI, 2.39 45.54, p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

We found a higher frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis infection than the one previously reported in our country, and a higher risk of early abortion for Chlamydia trachomatis infection (10.42) in pregnant women, which suggests the necessity of including the molecular study of this pathogen in women in prenatal control.