Possible role of bacterial and viral infections in miscarriages.

Objective: To determine the role of infections in miscarriages. Chorionic villi from aborted material were subjected to cytogenetic evaluation and analyzed for the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), adeno-associated virus (AAV), and human papillomaviruses (HPV).

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: University hospital and academic research institution.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Karyotyping and detection of bacterial and viral DNA by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in placenta specimens.

Result(s): In 54 (50%) of 108 samples the karyotype was normal, in 38 (35%) samples it was abnormal, and in 16 (15%) samples karyotype was undetermined. No U. urealyticum, M. hominis, HCMV, or AAV-2 DNA was detected, while C. trachomatis DNA was detected in one (1%) and HPV DNA in eight (7%) samples. No significant correlation of HPV-positive findings with karyotype status was established.

Conclusion(s): Our findings do not support a role of C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum, M. hominis, HCMV, or AAV infections in miscarriages during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, further investigation should be made to determine a possible involvement of HPVs in the development of genetic abnormalities of the fetus and in miscarriages.