Diagnosing genital tuberculosis in female infertility by clinical histopathological culture and polymerase chain reaction techniques

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the oldest diseases as old as human civilization newlineIt is a chronic infectious disease and the morbidity associated with this condition newlinehas major health implications. The disease has a worldwide distribution and the newlineincidence is high in developing countries. The global burden of tuberculosis remains newlineenormous, mainly because of poor control in Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and newlineEastern Europe. This is a prospective study conducted at the Fertility Research clinic of the newlineInstitute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,Chennai. This study is a comprehensive newlineattempt to arrive at a presumptive diagnosis of GTB as well as to evaluate the newlineefficiency of specific diagnostic tests namely; AFB smear, culture, HPE and PCR in newlinethe diagnosis of GTB. Based on the historical, clinical, laboratory investigations and newlineresults of gynaecological procedures a presumptive diagnosis of GTB was arrived at newlineand the results of specific diagnostic tests were evaluated against this presumed newlinecriterion. newlineThis study included 173 infertile women in whom infertility was due to tuboperitoneal newlinefactors and cases of unexplained infertility. Cases with other causes of newlineinfertility were excluded from this study. newlineIn these 173 women, detailed history was taken; careful clinical examination newlinewas carried out. Laboratory investigations for tuberculosis and specific newlinegynaecological procedures were also performed on these women. Premenstrual newlineendometrial tissue, POD fluid and urine samples were collected and submitted for newlinedirect AFB smear, culture for MTB and PCR testing for MTB DNA. newline newline