CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS INFECTION AND TUBAL ECTOPIC PREGNANCY IN JOS, PLATEAU STATE

ONYEJI JOHN

ONYEJI JOHN National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN)

Abstract

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is the commonest sexually transmitted disease that is capable of causing tubal damage and subsequent ectopic pregnancy. Immunoglobulin G anti Chlamydia tracchomatis antibody levels could be measured in women with previous

Chlamydia trachomatis infection.
Objectives: To determine the association between serological evidence of prior Chlamydia trachomatis infection and tubal ectopic pregnancy in Jos.
Methodology: This is a case control study carried out within the Jos metropolis. The study group comprised of 40 women with tubal ectopic pregnancy at JUTH, Plateau State Specialist Hospital Jos, and Faith Alive Hospital Jos. The control group comprised of 40 women matched for age with uncomplicated second trimester pregnancy attending antenatal care clinic at these health facilities. A convenience sampling which is a non-probability sampling technique was used for both the cases and the control groups. The subjects’ history including socio-demographic factors, obstetric history, sexual and reproductive risk factors were obtained using a study pro forma. Five milliliter of venous blood was collected from the subjects to determine the proportion and serum levels of IgG anti Chlamydial antibody in the cases and control using BIOS Chlamydia T. IgG ELISA kits. The data obtained were compiled, tabulated and analysed using Microsoft excel and statistical packed for social sciences (SPSS incorporated Chicago version 16.0)
Result: The patients with tubal ectopic pregnancy demonstrated more evidence of prior infection with Chlamydia trachomatis when compared with normal intrauterine pregnant controls (45.0% versus 15.0%) P-value =0.003. The presence of Chlamydia IgG antibody was associated with 4.6 fold risk of tubal ectopic pregnancy; Odds ratio =4.636 (1.593-13.494; P- value =0.005), and with positive likelihood ratio of 3.0.
Conclusion: This study has demonstrated a significantly higher seroprevalence of IgG Chlamydia antibody in women with tubal ectopic pregnancy compared with normal intrauterine pregnant control; and 4.6 fold risk association between prior Chlamydia trachomatis infection and tubal ectopic pregnancy.