Female genital tuberculosis infection (FGTB) is an important cause of female infertility in TB-endemic areas. The pregnancy rate of assisted reproductive treatment (ART) in the infertile women with FGTB is still unsatisfied even after receiving standard anti-tuberculosis treatment. Moreover, recent years have witnessed an alarming increase in reports of FGTB-related maternal and neonatal complications after fertility treatments. These underscore that timely detection and treatment of FGTB before ART hold benefit for the mother and child.
This project aims to recruit infertile female with high risk of tuberculosis infecton who need assisted reproductive treatment in multiple reproductive centers. The infertility-related medical history and laboratory examination results were recorded according to clinical routine, and other essential information such as tuberculosis symptoms, tuberculosis-related history and other health conditions were also recorded, and the pregnancy outcomes of these patients were followed up. According to the results of clinical screening, they were divided into four cohorts: non-tuberculosis (non-TB) group, latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) group, subclinical genital tuberculosis infection (SGTB) group and female genital tuberculosis infection (FGTB) group. Non-TB group: QuantiFERON-TB test (QFT) negative, continue assisted reproductive treatment; LTBI group: QFT positive. Excluded active pulmonary tuberculosis, patients have negative endometrial histopathology, acid-fast bacilli (AFB) microscopy, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) culture, or GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra test results. Then assisted reproductive treatment can be continued, but follow-up for tuberculosis-related symptoms is required; SGTB group: QFT positive. Excluded active pulmonary tuberculosis, patients have negative endometrial histopathology, AFB microscopy, Mtb culture, but GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra positive test results. They are recommended to receive 6-month first-line standard anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) regimen; FGTB group: QFT positive. Excluded active pulmonary tuberculosis, regardless of GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra results, at least one of these test results, including endometrial histopathologiy, AFB microscopy, Mtb culture is positive, they will receive 6-month ATT. Patients diagnosed with SGTB and FGTB will receive 6-month first-line standard ATT before ART, and follow up their anti-tuberculosis drug-related adverse reactions (TB-ARs) according to clinical routine to prevent the occurrence of grade 3-4 adverse drug reactions. All cohorts will be followed up for pregnancy outcomes after entering the assisted reproduction cycle, and the pregnancy outcomes of all subjects after the first assisted reproduction after enrollment were recorded. Follow-up nodes included the 2nd, 4th, 10th weeks and 37th weeks of gestation. Follow-up content includes pregnancy status. Follow-up subjects will be terminated when adverse pregnancy outcomes such as ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage occurred; follow-up of pregnant participants will be extended to 2 weeks postpartum. Participants from the SGTB or FGTB group achieve pregnant naturally after drug withdrawal, the follow-up of the natural pregnancy outcome will be started as well.
Endometrial biopsy is required to diagnose LTBI, SGTB and FGTB, which is an invasive operation and increases patients' economic burden. A screening method has been established that uses the interferon gamma release test as the primary screening test, and those who are positive undergo endometrial biopsy. Therefore, this project will use QFT to screen participants with Mtb infection, and further endometrium biopsy will be performed for QFT positive patients to diagnose LTBI, FGTB and SGTB. For participants with negative results for all diagnostic tests but QFT (defined as LTBI), close follow-up is necessary according to WHO guidelines.
Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
RECRUITINGClinical pregnancy rate of ART
the number of participants with gestational sacs seen by ultrasound examination 4-6 weeks after transplantation/the number of embryo transfer cycles in this group
Time frame: 2 years
Continued pregnancy rate of ART
the number of patients whose pregnancy was confirmed by repeat ultrasonography at 10th week of gestation/the number of embryo transfer cycles in this group
Time frame: 2 years
Prevalence of SGTB among infertile women
the number of SGTB participants/the total number of this project
Time frame: 6 months
Prevalence of FGTB/LTBI among infertile women
the number of each group/the total number of this project
Time frame: 2 years
Abortion rate
number of abortions/number of clinical pregnancy in non-TB or LTBI or SGTB or FGTB group
Time frame: 2 years
Ectopic pregnancy rate
number of ectopic pregnancy/number of clinical pregnancy in non-TB or LTBI or SGTB or FGTB group
Time frame: 2 years
Preterm birth rate
the number of premature births/the number of clinical pregnancy in non-TB or LTBI or SGTB or FGTB group
Time frame: 2 years
Live birth rate
the number of live births/the number of clinical pregnancy in non-TB or LTBI or SGTB or FGTB group
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Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
3,000
Time frame: 2 years
Maternal mortality rate
the number of maternal mortality/the number of clinical pregnancy in non-TB or LTBI or SGTB or FGTB group
Time frame: 2 years
Neonatal mortality rate
the number of neonatal mortality/the number of clinical pregnancy in non-TB or LTBI or SGTB or FGTB group
Time frame: 2 years
Spontaneous pregnancy rate
number of Spontaneous pregnancy/number of subjects completed ATT in FGTB/SGTB group
Time frame: 2 years
The incidence of grade 3-4 adverse events
the number of patients with grade 3-4 adverse events during anti-tuberculosis treatment / the total number of in FGTB/SGTB group
Time frame: 2 years
The rate of drug discontinuation due to adverse drug reactions
the number of patients who discontinued in anti-tuberculosis treatment due to adverse drug reactions / the total number of patients with adverse reactions in FGTB/SGTB group
Time frame: 2 years
Treatment completion rate
number of patients who completed anti-tuberculosis treatment / total number of patients in this group × 100%
Time frame: 2 years
Incidence of active tuberculosis of LTBI group during 1 year after enrollment
the number of subjects who develop to active tuberculosis during 1 year after enrollment/the number of subjects of LTBI group
Time frame: 1 year