Do short-term markers of treatment efficacy predict long-term sequelae of pelvic inflammatory disease?

Author(s): Trautmann GM, Kip KE, Richter HE, Soper DE, Peipert JF, Nelson DB, Trout W, Schubeck D, Bass DC, Ness RB

Affiliation(s): University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.

Publication date & source: 2008-01, Am J Obstet Gynecol., 198(1):30.e1-7.

Publication type: Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to assess whether short-term markers, often used to measure clinical cure after treatment for pelvic inflammatory disease, predict sequelae of lack of pregnancy, recurrent pelvic inflammatory disease, and chronic pelvic pain. STUDY DESIGN: Women with mild-to-moderate pelvic inflammatory disease were assessed after treatment initiation at 5 days for tenderness (n = 713) and at 30 days for tenderness, cervical infections and endometritis (n = 298). Pregnancy, recurrent pelvic inflammatory disease, and chronic pelvic pain were evaluated after 84 months, on average. RESULTS: Pelvic tenderness at 5 and at 30 days significantly elevated the risk for developing chronic pelvic pain; tenderness at 30 days was also significantly associated with recurrent pelvic inflammatory disease. However, pelvic tenderness at 5 and at 30 days was only modestly clinically predictive of chronic pelvic pain or recurrent pelvic inflammatory disease (positive predictive values 22.1-66.9%). No short-term marker significantly influenced the likelihood of achieving a pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Tenderness at 5 or 30 days did not accurately predict the occurrence of pelvic inflammatory disease-related reproductive morbidities.