Latent Genital Tuberculosis – A Causative Factor for Ectopic Pregnancy- A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract

Background: Ectopic tubal pregnancy (ETP) is a dreadful situation for both the patient and the doctor. Prevalence of ETP is increasing because of availability of convenient and modern modalities for the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Patients are aware of the condition and many lives can be saved when diagnosed and managed at an early stage; still almost 10% of maternal deaths are due to ETP. The etiology of ETP remains unknown in almost half of the cases and hence the risk of recurrence remains high. The present study has been conducted to screen patients with history of tubal ectopic pregnancyand to determine the role of tubercular infestation of the eutopicendometrium as an important etiological factor in ‘unexplained’ ectopic. Results: This retrospective analysis was conducted at Calcutta Fertility Mission in Kolkata, India, from January 2010 to December 2018. Of 282 patients with history of ETP,who were selected, 109 were in Group A, 72 of them in Group B and 101 in Group C. Tubercular infestation of the endometrium (DNA-PCR positive) was found in all (109) patients in Group A, and others in Group B and C had previous history of pelvic surgery or endometriosis, pelvic infection or unexplained infertility associated with tubercular infestation of the endometrium. In our study latent genital tuberculosis has been proved to be a statistically significant factor for ETP. (p value - <0.001) Moreover other factors like tubal surgeries (p value - <0.001) or correction of minor tubal defects (p value – 0.024); endometriosis (p value- <0.001) and pelvic inflammatory disease (p value -<0.001), have shown statistical significance in causing ectopic pregnancy. Clinical pregnancy rate (p value -0.002) and live birth rate (p value-<0.001) has been proved to be statistically significant after treatment of ETP. Conclusion: Along with the documented causes of ETP tubercular infestation of the endometrium should be considered as an important etiology for ectopic pregnancy and should be screened on a routine basis for early intervention and treatment.