Chronic Chlamydia pneumonia Infection and Risk of Early-Onset Versus Late-Onset Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is one of the challenges associated with mother and baby health. Preeclampsia and atherosclerosis share certain similarities. Atherosclerosis has been previously linked to chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. This investigation aimed to establish the role of chronic Chlamydia pneumoniae in the development and onset of preeclampsia. The research was conducted from October ۱, ۲۰۱۸ to September ۳۰, ۲۰۱۹ in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq. The study included ۱۴۰ pregnant women divided into two groups: ۷۰ women with early and late-onset preeclampsia and ۷۰ women with late-onset preeclampsia. Group I (early-onset preeclampsia) included ۳۵ singleton pregnant women who developed preeclampsia after ۳۴ weeks with blood pressure>۱۴۰/۹۰ and proteinuria>۱. Late-onset preeclampsia (group II) consisted of ۳۵ singleton pregnant women who developed clinical preeclampsia after ۳۴ weeks of pregnancy, with blood pressure>۱۴۰/۹۰ and proteinuria +۱, and ۷۰ healthy term pregnant women without complications who acted as the control group (Group III). Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) analyzers were utilized to measure serum Chlamydia pneumoniae IgG levels in all study groups. Women with early-onset preeclampsia had the highest median Chlamydia pneumonia IgG level, ۰.۳ U/ml, compared to ۰.۰۹ U/ml for women with late-onset preeclampsia and ۰.۱۹U/ml for healthy term pregnant women without complications; these differences were statistically significant (P=۰.۰۰۱). This study found that the IgG titer for Chlamydia pneumoniae was higher in early-onset preeclampsia than in late-onset preeclampsia and in healthy term pregnancy without complications. This substantial increase was a direct result of the onset of preeclampsia. This provided evidence for the pathophysiological connection between preeclampsia and the reactivation of a chronic or latent infection.

Keywords:

Chlamydia pneumonia , Preeclampsia , IgG titer , pregnancy