PCR-Based Evaluation of Tuberculous Endometritis in Infertile Women

Background: Tuberculous endometritis is often a diagnostic dilemma for gynecologists in the evaluation of infertility. This study evaluated and compared different diagnostic methods in tuberculous endometritis. Methods: 100 infertile women were investigated for tuberculous endometritis. The endo-metrial samples obtained by curettage were evaluated by Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining of the smears for acid-fast bacilli (AFB), the samples were also cultured on Lowenstein-Jensen medium, and histopathological examination and nested PCR targeting ‘hupB ’ gene (Rv 2986c in M. tuberculosis and Mb3010c in M. bovis) which can differentiate between M. tuberculosis and M. bovis were performed. Antibodies against 38-kDa and 16-kDa mycobacterial antigens were detected in serum using ELISA. Statistical analysis was done by online GraphPad Prism software, version 5.0. McNemar’s test was applied and Kappa agreement coefficient was calculated for agreement between various methods. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Among the 100 evaluated endometrial samples, one was AFB smear positive, non