Objective: To determine whether Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels in maternal sera are associated with preeclampsia or gestational hypertension.
Methods: C. pneumoniae antibodies and hsCRP levels were measured in maternal serum during first trimester (mean, 10.4 weeks of gestation) using the microimmunofluorescence (MIF) test and a highly sensitive immunoenzymometric assay, respectively.
Results: No differences in the IgG antibody levels against C. pneumoniae or hsCRP levels were seen between the women with preeclampsia or gestational hypertension and those in the reference group. However, the women with preeclampsia and preterm delivery had serum IgG antibodies to C. pneumoniae (IgG titre > or =32) significantly more often in their first trimester sera compared with women having preeclampsia and full-term deliveries (p = 0.03). In addition, the proportion of subjects with C. pneumoniae IgG antibodies (IgG titre > or =32) and/or elevated CRP levels (> or =3.8 mg/L, upper quartile) was double among the women with preeclampsia and elective preterm delivery compared with the women with preeclampsia who delivered at term (p = 0.01).
Conclusion: Our results suggest that chronic C. pneumoniae infection and systemic low-grade inflammation may be associated with preeclampsia requiring elective delivery before 37 weeks gestation.