Publication:

Chlamydia trachomatis infection and tubal ectopic pregnancy in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Background Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular organism that is sexually transmitted and mostly asymptomatic. It is capable of tubal damage with subsequent tubal ectopic pregnancy. IgG anti-Chlamydia antibody can be measured in women with past or latent Chlamydia trachomatis infection. This study aimed to determine association between prior Chlamydia trachomatis infection and tubal ectopic pregnancy, and predictive value of Chlamydia trachomatis IgG for tubal ectopic pregnancy.

Methods This was a case control study carried out within Jos metropolis within 6 months period (November 2018 to April 2019). Study groups comprised of 40 women with tubal ectopic pregnancy and 40 uncomplicated second trimester pregnant women recruited from Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State Specialist Hospital Jos, and Faith Alive Hospital Jos by convenience sampling. The subjects’ socio-demographic factors, obstetric history, sexual and reproductive risk factors were obtained using study pro forma. Five milliliter of venous blood was collected from subjects to determine proportions and serum levels of IgG anti-Chlamydia antibody in cases and controls using BIOS Chlamydia T. IgG ELISA kits.   Data obtained were analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 26.

Results Patients with tubal ectopic pregnancy demonstrated significant evidence of prior Chlamydia trachomatis infection compared with intrauterine pregnant controls (45.0% versus 15.0%, p value =0.003), 4.6-fold risk association for tubal ectopic pregnancy (OR =4.63, 1.593-13.494; p value =0.005), and 75% positive predictive value.

Conclusions This study revealed an association between prior Chlamydia trachomatis infection and tubal ectopic pregnancy with Chlamydia IgG having good predictive value for tubal pregnancy.