Prevalence of Chlamydophilia Pneumonia antibodies in women with Pre-Eclampsia in Lagos, Nigeria

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Date
2012
Authors
Awoleke, J.O
Ajayi, G.O
Adegbola, O
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
West African Medical Journal
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The precise aetiology of pre-eclampsia has remained unknown. It is still a major contributor to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between preeclampsia and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to Chlamydophila pneumoniae. METHODS: One hundred and eleven parturients in a tertiary hospital in Lagos, Nigeria comprising 49 women with preeclampsia and 62 women without pre-eclampsia were studied.Peripheral blood was obtained for Chlamydophila pneumoniae antibodies which were measured using a solidphase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and maternal diastolic blood pressure, perinatal morbidity and mortality were also assessed. RESULTS: The cases (N = 49) and controls (N = 62) were evenly matched with respect to age and parity. The women with pre-eclampsia delivered at significantly lower gestational ages than those with normotensive gestations. 66.7% of all the subjects were seropositive for Chlamydophila pneumoniae antibodies. 38 out of the 49 cases (77.6%) were positive for the Chlamydophila pneumoniae antibodies compared with 36 out of the 62 controls (58.1%) [p<0.05].Higher antibody titres were found in parous women with a previous history of preeclampsia compared with those without a previous history (p = 0.0308).However, there was no significant association between antibody titres and pregnancy outcome (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results from this study suggest a link between Chlamydophila pneumoniae IgG antibodies and pre-eclampsia. Further prospective studies with larger sizes are needed to verify this association and identify therapeutic options that will effectively prevent the onset or progression of preeclampsia.
Description
Staff publications
Keywords
Pre-eclampsia , Chlamydophila pneumoniae , Seroprevalence , IgG antibodies , Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE::Surgery::Obstetrics and women's diseases::Obstetrics and gynaecology
Citation
Awoleke, J.O. Ajayi, G.O. & Adegbola, O. (2012). Prevalence of Chlamydophilia Pneumonia antibodies in women with Pre-Eclampsia in Lagos, Nigeria. West African Journal of Medicine, 31(4):253-258.