Chlamydia trachomatis detected in cervical smears from Copper-T users by DFA test
Palayekar, V.; Joshi, J.V.; Hazari, K.T.; Shah, R.S.; Chitlange, S.M.
Advances in Contraception the Official Journal of the Society for the Advancement of Contraception 12(2): 145-152
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0267-4874 PMID: 8863910 DOI: 10.1007/bf01849636Document Number: 299311
Objective: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) antigen in endocervical smears from women using the Copper-T200 (Cu-T) intrauterine device and comparing them with nonusers. Methods: The direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test was used to detect the CT antigen (CT Ag). Results: A total of 422 women between 17 and 42 years of age was evaluated. Out of these 71 (16.8%) were positive for CT Ag. Among Cu-T users (n = 222), 14.0% were positive. The duration of Cu-T use varied from 6 to 80 months. Among nonusers (n = 200), the DFA test was positive in 20.0% (p = 0.11, NS). However, as a whole, symptoms related to genital tract infection were significantly more common in Copper-T users than in nonusers (p lt 0.02) and signs were relatively more common in Cu-T users but not significantly so (p = 0.16). Similarly, as a group, symptoms as well as signs were significantly more common in all DFA-positive cases than in all negative cases (P lt 0.02). Among Cu-T users, symptoms were relatively more common, and signs were significantly more common, in women positive for CT Ag than in the negative cases (p lt 0.04). There were two cases of mild pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) diagnosed clinically, one in a Copper-T user, and the other a nonuser, both being positive by the DFA test. Conclusion: There was no correlation between the duration of Copper-T use and percent positivity for CT Ag. Although milder genital tract symptoms and signs were more common in women with chlamydial cervicitis, clinically PID appears to be uncommon (0.5%). PID in this study was not related to Copper-T use but related to chlamydial cervicitis in this group of women with low risk sexual behavior.
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