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ABSTRACT
A group of 103 unselected consecutive patients presenting for routine prenatal care were examined for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) in the clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Varna city. The aim was to determine whether serologic evidence of CT during pregnancy is a risk factor for preterm delivery (before 37 weeks' gestation). A total of 21 women (20%) were found to be seropositive for IgG antibodies to CT. They were similar to the seronegative women with respect to maternal age, history of preterm birth, obstetric or medical problem, smoking status, history of drug abuse, educational status and psychosocial stressors. The seropositive women were significantly more likely than the seronegative women to have a preterm birth (24% [5/21] v.7% [6/82]; p=0.029). The positive predictive value of a seropositive result for preterm birth was 31% (5/16); the negative predictive value of a seronegative result for preterm birth was 8% (6/76).
In conclusion, women with serologic evidence of CT may be at risk for preterm birth. Further study is required to determine whether serologic testing for CT should be a routine part of prenatal care.