BACKGROUND:Recent advances suggest fallopian tube as the main cellular source for women's pelvic serous carcinoma (PSC). In addition to TP53 mutations, many other genetic changes are involved in pelvic serous carcinogenesis. IMP3 is an oncofetal protein which has recently been observed to be overexpressed in benign-looking tubal epithelia. Such findings prompted us to examine the relationship between IMP3 over-expression, patient age and the likelihood of development of PSC.METHODS:Fallopian tubes from three groups (low-risk, high-risk, and PSC) of patients with matched ages were studied. Age was recorded in 10years intervals ranging from age 20 to older than 80. The number of IMP3 signatures (defined by 10 or more tubal secretory cells stained positively and continuously in benign appearing tubal mucosa) from both tubal fimbria and ampulla segments was measured. The data was analyzed by standard contingency table and Poisson distribution methods after age adjustment. IMP3 overexpression was also examined in serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma and PSC.RESULTS:The positive IMP3-stained cells are mainly tubal secretory cells. The absolute number of tubal IMP3 signatures increased significantly within each age group. Age remained a significant risk factor for serous neoplasia after age adjustment. IMP3 signatures were more frequent in the patients of both high-risk and PSC groups. The presence of IMP3 signatures in tubal mucosa was significantly associated with tubal or pelvic serous carcinogenesis (p<0.001).CONCLUSIONS:The findings suggest that tubal secretory cells with IMP3 signatures showing growth advantage could potentially serve as a latent precancer biomarker for tubal or pelvic serous carcinomas in women.

O fator tuboperitoneal é a causa mais freqüente de infertilidade na mulher e a sua investigação é fundamental na propedêutica do casal infértil. Neste estudo, avaliou-se o método da sonohisterossalpingografia contrastada (Hycosy), que utiliza o contraste SH U 454 (Echovist&#61650;), na detecção da permeabilidade tubária, comparando-o com a histerossalpingografia (HSG) e com a laparoscopia (LPS) acompanhada de cromotubagem (padrão ouro). Realizou-se a investigação de 96 tubas uterinas de 48 pacientes, submetidas à Hycosy, HSG e LPS. Todas as avaliações da Hycosy foram realizadas por um único observador que desconhecia o resultado da HSG. O mesmo se refere, também, quanto à realização da HSG, bem como da LPS. Foram avaliados os seguintes instrumentos de medidas: sensibilidade (S), especificidade (E), valor preditivo positivo (VPP), valor preditivo negativo (VPN), concordância observada (CO), razão de verossimilhança positiva (RV+) e razão de verossimilhança negativa (RV-). Comparando-se a avaliação pela Hycosy com a LPS, foram encontrados os seguintes resultados: S=86,6%, E=35,7%, VPP=88,75%, VPN=31,25%, CO=79,2%, RV+=1,35 e RV-=0,38. Quanto à comparação da HSG com a LPS, os valores obtidos foram: S=85,4%, E= 50%, VPP=90,9%, VPN=36,8%, CO=80,2%, RV+=1,71 e RV-=0,29. Entre Hycosy e HSG, a co-positividade foi de 87%, a co-negatividade de 31,6% e a concordância de 76%. Esse estudo demonstrou que a Hycosy é uma técnica segura e confiável para a avaliação da permeabilidade tubária na propedêutica da infertilidade. / Tubal disorders are the main causes of female infertility. Assessment of tubal patency is a very important issue for evaluating an infertile couple. A total of 96 Fallopian tubes from 48 patients was examined with hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (Hycosy), hysterosalpingography (HSG) and laparoscopic chromopertubation (LPS). Hycosy was performed by transvaginal ultrasound with a new contrast medium (Echovist&#61650;). Compared with laparoscopic results, we found a sensitivity of 86.6%, a specificity of 35.7%, positive predictive value (VPP) of 88.75%, negative predictive value (VPN) of 31.25% and concordance (Hycosy/LPS) of 79,2%, while the results for HSG were sensitivity of 85.4%, specificity of 50%, VPP of 90.9%, VPN of 36.8% and concordance (HSG/LPS) of 80.2%. In conclusion, the results have shown that Hycosy is a reliable and safe method for evaluating tubal patency.

All thirty women who were to undergo microsurgical treatment for tubal infertility in 1981 and their men were investigated. Over a period of 2 years four interviews were performed with the women and two with their men. A questionnaire, semistructured interviews, symptom checklist and the Eysenck Personality Inventory were used. During this longitudinal study the couples' background, current situation and emotional and social impact of the infertility problem were investigated. The psychological and social effects of the medical investigation and treatment have been described. Expectations and hopes about the future after unsuccessful surgical treatment and the need of professional psychosocial counselling have been noted. Furthermore, the extent of psychological reactions compatible with a crisis pattern has been identified and classified. Finally, overt motives for having a child have been studied. The infertile couples generally did not differ with respect to psychosocial background, current life situation, psychiatric anamnesis or personality characteristics when compared with apparently normal reference groups. Several deleterious emotional and social effects of the infertility were found both before and 2 years after the surgical treatment. The women admitted to suffering such effects more frequently than the men. The partners' feeling for each other were getting worse 2 years after the operation. There was also a tendency to a deterioration in opinions about marital relationships. Most of the mental symptoms recorded could be classified in terms of depression, guilt and isolation, which all are parts of the reactive phase of the common crisis pattern. The crisis of infertility, however, differs from the common traumatic crisis; it is more prolonged and there are often repeated crisis reactions. Negative effects on the couples' sexual life were reported by all individuals. The medical investigation and surgical treatment of infertility influenced the couples' mutual relationship and sexual life negatively. Intrapsychic and interpersonal motives of childwish were dominant among both women and men. A central motive was that a child is an ultimate expression of love between a man and a woman. The motives of the infertile couples generally did not differ from those of the reference groups. Most of the couples had difficulty in working their way through and finding a solution to their infertility problem by their own means. Relatives and friends failed to fulfil a supportive function. The importance of having the possibility of professional psychosocial counselling and support parallel with the investigation and treatment were stressed by all participants. / digitalisering@umu

Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacteria with devastating reproductive consequences that lead to tubal factor infertility (TFI). Recent studies have implicated apoptosis – associated speck – like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) as an adaptor of inflammasomes that stimulate IL – 1β and IL – 18 secretion, pro – inflammatory cytokines with critical functions in host defense against a variety of pathogens. Therefore, for the first time, we are reporting the use of ASC-/- mice in a mouse model of Chlamydia infection that might provide some information on the role of inflammasomes in the pathogenesis of Chlamydia infection. In this study, wild type (WT) and ASC-/- mice were infected with Chlamydia. Infectivity, pathology of the upper genital tract (UGT), and, fertility were evaluated. In addition, expression of ASC – dependent inflammasomes and the activation of immune cells within the genital tract (GT) were studied. Results showed that Chlamydia infectivity in ASC-/- mice was significantly higher (p-/- mice which, when compared to infected WT mice, was exhibited by decrease in average number of pups and percent pregnancy. There was also severe UGT damage in ASC-/- mice compared to WT mice, correlating with the higher number of hydrosalpinx observed on the UGT of Chlamydia infected ASC-/- mice. Furthermore, IL – 1β and IL – 18 production as well as immune cell activation were down regulated in the GT of Chlamydia infected ASC-/- mice. This finding indicates that in absence of ASC, host innate and adaptive immunity is impaired. Results imply that ASC plays a protective role in the mucosal immunity against GT Chlamydia infection.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:04:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao - Claudia de Paula Guimaraes.pdf: 1751048 bytes, checksum: 9cbbf6c0507b0dd6294049b187ee383c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-12-18 / Esterilização cirúrgica, também chamada de laqueadura tubária, embora seja um método contraceptivo seguro e eficaz tem a finalidade de evitar, em caráter definitivo, a gestação. O estudo teve como objetivo geral analisar a experiência de mulheres submetidas à esterilização cirúrgica, que solicitam a reversão do procedimento. Pesquisa de natureza descritiva-exploratória com abordagem qualitativa, realizada no município de Goiânia-GO. A população do estudo constituiu-se de 25 mulheres esterilizadas, que procuraram o Laboratório de Reprodução Humana do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Goiás para realizar a reversão da laqueadura tubária. Os resultados das entrevistas possibilitaram descrever o perfil das mulheres esterilizadas e identificar os fatores determinantes que levaram mulheres a se submeterem à esterilização cirúrgica e posteriormente solicitarem a reversão do procedimento. Os fatores determinantes pela escolha da esterilização cirúrgica identificados foram os problemas conjugais, a falta e conhecimento acerca dos métodos contraceptivos, o tamanho da prole e a oferta e facilidade da laqueadura tubária. O fator determinante para a reversão da esterilização foi a nova situação conjugal das mulheres entrevistadas que se revelou como sentimento de arrependimento, como forma de querer voltar atrás, de querer outro filho, especialmente após constituírem outra união. Recomenda-se a realização de estudos semelhantes, em outros contextos, que possam ampliar o debate e contribuir para a implementação de políticas públicas de saúde na promoção do planejamento familiar, para melhorar o processo de orientação e aconselhamento, referente à opção por métodos contraceptivos reversíveis e eficazes

O fator tuboperitoneal é a causa mais freqüente de infertilidade na mulher e a sua investigação é fundamental na propedêutica do casal infértil. Neste estudo, avaliou-se o método da sonohisterossalpingografia contrastada (Hycosy), que utiliza o contraste SH U 454 (Echovist&#61650;), na detecção da permeabilidade tubária, comparando-o com a histerossalpingografia (HSG) e com a laparoscopia (LPS) acompanhada de cromotubagem (padrão ouro). Realizou-se a investigação de 96 tubas uterinas de 48 pacientes, submetidas à Hycosy, HSG e LPS. Todas as avaliações da Hycosy foram realizadas por um único observador que desconhecia o resultado da HSG. O mesmo se refere, também, quanto à realização da HSG, bem como da LPS. Foram avaliados os seguintes instrumentos de medidas: sensibilidade (S), especificidade (E), valor preditivo positivo (VPP), valor preditivo negativo (VPN), concordância observada (CO), razão de verossimilhança positiva (RV+) e razão de verossimilhança negativa (RV-). Comparando-se a avaliação pela Hycosy com a LPS, foram encontrados os seguintes resultados: S=86,6%, E=35,7%, VPP=88,75%, VPN=31,25%, CO=79,2%, RV+=1,35 e RV-=0,38. Quanto à comparação da HSG com a LPS, os valores obtidos foram: S=85,4%, E= 50%, VPP=90,9%, VPN=36,8%, CO=80,2%, RV+=1,71 e RV-=0,29. Entre Hycosy e HSG, a co-positividade foi de 87%, a co-negatividade de 31,6% e a concordância de 76%. Esse estudo demonstrou que a Hycosy é uma técnica segura e confiável para a avaliação da permeabilidade tubária na propedêutica da infertilidade. / Tubal disorders are the main causes of female infertility. Assessment of tubal patency is a very important issue for evaluating an infertile couple. A total of 96 Fallopian tubes from 48 patients was examined with hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (Hycosy), hysterosalpingography (HSG) and laparoscopic chromopertubation (LPS). Hycosy was performed by transvaginal ultrasound with a new contrast medium (Echovist&#61650;). Compared with laparoscopic results, we found a sensitivity of 86.6%, a specificity of 35.7%, positive predictive value (VPP) of 88.75%, negative predictive value (VPN) of 31.25% and concordance (Hycosy/LPS) of 79,2%, while the results for HSG were sensitivity of 85.4%, specificity of 50%, VPP of 90.9%, VPN of 36.8% and concordance (HSG/LPS) of 80.2%. In conclusion, the results have shown that Hycosy is a reliable and safe method for evaluating tubal patency.

Orientadores: Maria Jose Duarte Osis, Jose Guilherme Cecatti / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-09T13:11:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carvalho_LuizEduardoCamposde_D.pdf: 1884973 bytes, checksum: 0dd23b132c19d4cdd493dad5c85f2eb0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar as condições em que está sendo atendida a demanda pela esterilização cirúrgica voluntária na rede pública de saúde dos dezenove municípios da Região Metropolitana de Campinas, e avaliar a opinião de gestores, provedores e usuárias quanto à adequação do atendimento à Lei de Planejamento Familiar. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo com dois componentes: quantitativo e qualitativo. No componente quantitativo foi realizado um estudo de corte transversal, com 398 mulheres residentes na RMC, entrevistadas em seus domicílios, selecionadas em ruas previamente sorteadas através de uma amostragem sistemática e eqüiprobabilística; 15 gestores municipais da área de planejamento familiar e 15 coordenadores de unidades básicas de saúde. Utilizaram-se questionários estruturados e pré-testados. Para a parte qualitativa foram escolhidos propositadamente quatro municípios da RMC. Foram realizadas 28 entrevistas semi-estruturadas com coordenadores (as) de centros de referência (CR) e/ou ambulatórios de planejamento familiar (APF), e com profissionais diretamente envolvidos no processo de atendimento às solicitações de esterilização. Os dados quantitativos foram duplamente digitados, por pessoas distintas, utilizando-se o software Sphinx Léxica. Quanto às entrevistas semi-estruturadas, foram transcritas, e o texto correspondente a cada entrevista inserido no computador utilizando-se o software The Ethnograph V. 5.0. Não houve diferenças significativas quanto às características das mulheres e homens esterilizados antes e depois da regulamentação legal. A partir de 1998, a maior parte das laqueaduras continuou a ser realizada no momento de uma cesárea; o pagamento ¿por fora¿ diminuiu, porém a diferença não foi significativa. O tempo mínimo de espera para a laqueadura foi de seis meses, entretanto, este foi o tempo máximo de espera para a vasectomia. Oito municípios referiram realizar a laqueadura e nove a vasectomia. A informação de cerca da metade dos municípios foi de seguir os critérios estabelecidos pela lei de planejamento familiar. Em três dos quatro municípios avaliados pela parte qualitativa, o atendimento era centralizado em CR/APF, onde se avaliava se eram atendidos os critérios legais para autorizar a cirurgia, ministravam-se atividades educativas e se providenciava o agendamento da cirurgia nos serviços credenciados. A principal crítica à atual legislação referiu-se à proibição de realizar a laqueadura no momento do parto, considerada como forma de penalização às mulheres que só têm partos vaginais. Havia demanda reprimida, gerada pelo tempo de espera para realizar as cirurgias, mas também pela dificuldade de agendamento de consultas nos CR/APF. Essas dificuldades foram atribuídas à falta de estrutura física e de recursos humanos para realizar ações em planejamento familiar, tanto nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde quanto nos CR/APF. Os resultados apontaram que, na RMC, as mudanças produzidas com a regulamentação da legislação específica sobre esterilização não ocorreram da forma esperada. Apesar de avanços, ainda existem várias distorções que ainda precisam ser corrigidas para que se tenha um adequado atendimento à demanda por esterilização cirúrgica / Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the conditions under the demand for voluntary surgical sterilization is being addressed in the health public sector of the 19 municipalities in the Metropolitan Region of Campinas (MRC), and to evaluate the opinion of administrators, providers and users concerning the adequacy to the Law of Family Planning. A descriptive study was performed with two components: quantitative and qualitative. For the quantitative component, a cross sectional study was carried out with 398 women living in the MRC and interviewed in their households, selected in previously randomly identified streets through an equiprobabilistic and systematic sampling; 15 municipal health administrators in the field of family planning and 15 coordinators of primary health units. Structured and pre tested questionnaires were used. For the qualitative component, four municipalities of the MRC were purposely chosen. Twenty eight semi-structured interviews with coordinators of Referral Centers (RC) and/or family planning outpatient clinics (FPOC) were performed, and with professionals directly involved in the process of answering sterilization requests. The quantitative data were double entered by different people using the software Sphinx Lexica. Regarding the semi-structured interviews, they were transcribed and the text correspondent to each interview was entered in a database using the software The Ethnograph V. 5.0. There were no significant differences concerning the characteristics of women and men sterilized before and after the legal regulamentation. From 1998 and upwards, the great majority of tubal ligations continued to be performed at the moment of a Cesarean section; the ¿extra¿ payment decreased, but the difference was not significant. The minimum waiting time for tubal ligation was six months, however this was the maximum waiting time for vasectomy. Eight municipalities reported to perform tubal ligation, while nine the vasectomy. Among them, around half referred to follow the criteria established by the Law of Family Planning. In three out four municipalities evaluated by the qualitative component, the care was centralized in RC/FPOC, where they evaluated whether the legal criteria were followed in order to allow the surgery, educational activities were ministered and the surgical procedure was scheduled in the services with credentials. The main criticism to the current legislation was concerned to the prohibition of performing tubal ligation at the moment of a delivery, what was considered as a kind of penalty to the women who have only vaginal births. There was a repressed demand generated by the waiting time to perform the surgery and also due to the difficulty in scheduling visits in the RC/FPOC. These difficulties were attributed to the lack of physical structure and human resources to accomplish with the family planning actions, not only in the primary health units but also in the RC/FPOC. The results indicated that in the MRC the changes produced with the regulamentation of the specific legislation for sterilization did not occur as expected. Although the improvements, there are still several distortions that need to be corrected in order to came to an adequate answer to the demand for surgical sterilization / Doutorado / Tocoginecologia / Doutor em Tocoginecologia

Reproductive success depends on a functional oviduct for gamete storage, maturation, fertilization, and early-conceptus development. The ovarian-derived sex steroids estradiol and progesterone are known to affect functionality of the oviduct. Advances in microarray and NanoString technology allow for gene expression analysis to increase understanding of processes critical for fertility. Studies were conducted to investigate mechanisms regulating oviductal function in cattle and mice by using the Bovine Gene 1.0 ST array and the Mouse Gene 430-2.0 arrays (Affymetrix Inc., CA), respectively. For the first study, oviducts were collected from heifers assigned to luteal or follicular phase groups. In the second study oviducts were collected from immature mice with a global deletion of estrogen receptor-1 (ESR1) and their wild-type littermates at 23 days of age or 48 hr after treatment with 5 IU of PMSG. Following microarray hybridization, the resulting datasets were analyzed using Partek Genomics Suite 6.6 (Partek Inc., MO). The results of the first two studies illustrated a dynamic hormonal regulation of the oviductal epithelium and revealed the identity of novel genes affecting fertility in cattle and gave us insights into the genes regulated by estrogen and ESR1 in mice. Many genes identified as differentially regulated are believed to play an integral role in the regulation of oviductal inflammation. Therefore, the objective of the third study was to test the hypothesis that intraperitoneal administration of E. Coli-derived lipopolysaccharide induces the expression of inflammatory mRNAs in the mouse oviduct. Mice were treated with 0, 2 μg or 10 μg of LPS from E. Coli. and killed 24 h later. Oviducts were collected for determination of inflammatory gene expression by a targeted NanoString approach using the nCounter GX Mouse Inflammation Kit (NanoString Technologies, Wa). Results indicate that systemic treatment with LPS induces inflammation in the oviducts of mice and provides evidence of a repeatable animal model of oviductal inflammation. Overall, data from these studies extends our knowledge of the mechanisms regulating oviductal functions and immune response, as well as identified target molecules and processes to improve production animal and human fertility.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:29:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Monica Canedo.pdf: 1399065 bytes, checksum: d8dbbf45d1c8e0d832e311c7d2c9c8f7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-03-02 / Background: Actually the Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the major number of cases of sexual transmitted bacterial infections. The likelihood of tubal damage in infertile women is associated to the evidence of chlamydia infection. Objectives: To evaluate the ability of indirect immunofluorescence for Chlamydia trachomatis on tubal occlusion and to establish the cutoff point (best sensitivity and specificity) of antibodies IgG titres (indirect immunofluorescence) to detect tubal occlusion (ROC curve). Methodology: This is a retrospective study with 204 electronic records of patients attended at a university and private infertility center in the city of Goiania, in the period of 2006 to 2009. Patients had 17 to 47 years old. To evaluate the risk of tubal occlusion the patients were divided into two groups: patients exposed to chlamydia (significant IFI &#8805; 1:16) e unexposed (no significant IFI < 1:16). It was verified patients who had the disease (tubal occlusion) and not sick (without tubal occlusion) in the hysterosalpingography. For the calculations the Chi-square (&#967;2) were used, corrected to small samples (Fisher Exact Test) when necessary. The p chosen level was 0.05. The ROC curve was calculated with BioEstat® software, using the standard methodology. This study was submitted and approved by Ethics Committee of Hospital Clinics of the Federal University of Goias.Results: Of the 72 patients with significant titres, 34 (47,2%) showed the occurrence of tubal occlusion. In relation the 132 patients with no significant titres, only 18 (13,7%) had tubal occlusion (p < 0,001). We also observed a progressive increase in the levels of antibodies and the likelihood of tubal occlusion (p < 0,001). The best cutoff point of the ROC curve with the titre was 1:64. However, we believe that we can continue using a cutoff titre to &#8805; 1:16 by interfering little in sensitivity and specificity and because it is currently used in the Clinical Laboratory of Hospital Clinics. Conclusions: The results indicate that serology for Chlamydia trachomatis (indirect immunofluorescence) is valid for screening of tubal damage. We also showed that the best cutoff (ROC) indirect immunofluorescence to detect tubal occlusion is 1:64, but between 1:16 and 1:64 there is a slight change in sensitivity and specificity. / Introdução: Atualmente, a Chlamydia trachomatis é responsável pelo maior número de casos de infecções bacterianas sexualmente transmissíveis. A probabilidade de lesão tubária em mulheres inférteis é relacionada com evidência de infeccção passada por clamídia. Objetivos: Avaliar a capacidade da imunofluorescência indireta para Chlamydia trachomatis em rastrear obstrução tubária e estabelecer o ponto de corte (melhor sensibilidade e especificidade) de títulos de anticorpos IgG imunofluorescência indireta) para detectar obstrução tubária (curva ROC). Métodos: Este é um estudo retrospectivo com 204 prontuários eletrônicos de pacientes atendidas em um centro universitário e particular de infertilidade na cidade de Goiânia, no período de 2006 a 2009, com faixa etária entre 17 e 47 anos. Para avaliar o risco de obstrução tubária as pacientes foram divididas em dois grupos: pacientes expostas à clamídia (IFI significativa &#8805; 1:16) e não expostas (IFI não significativa < 1:16). Verificou-se então, as pacientes que tiveram a doença (obstrução tubária) e não doentes (sem obstrução tubária) na histerossalpingografia. Para os cálculos foi utilizado o teste Qui-quadrado (&#967;2), corrigido para pequenas amostras (teste Exato de Fisher) quando necessário. O nível de p escolhido foi 0,05. A curva ROC foi calculada com o programa BioEstat® utilizando a metodologia usual. Este estudo foi submetido e aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Goiás. Resultados: Das 72 pacientes com titulação significativa, 34 (47,2%) apresentaram a ocorrência de obstrução tubária. Em relação as 132 pacientes com titulação não significativa, somente 18 (13,7%) apresentaram obstrução tubária (p < 0,001). Foi observado também um aumento progressivo entre os níveis de anticorpos e a probabilidade de obstrução tubária (p < 0,001). O melhor ponto de corte na curva ROC foi com a titulação de 1:64. Porém, consideramos que pode-se continuar utilizando como ponto de corte a titulação &#8805; 1:16, por interferir pouco na sensibilidade e especificidade e por ser a atualmente utilizada no Laboratório Clínico do Hospital das Clínicas. Conclusões: Os resultados deste estudo revelaram que a sorologia para Chlamydia trachomatis (imunofluorescência indireta) é válida para rastreamento de lesão tubária. Verificamos ainda que o melhor ponto de corte (curva ROC) da imunofluorescência indireta em detectar obstrução tubária é 1:64, mas, entre 1:16 e 1:64 há uma discreta mudança na sensibilidade e especificidade do teste.

INTRODUÇÃO: A definição de fatores preditivos de lesão morfológica e funcional da tuba uterina poderia colaborar na escolha do tratamento de pacientes com gestação ectópica. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o comportamento do tecido trofoblástico em relação à sua penetração na parede da tuba uterina em gestações ampulares, relacionar a profundidade dessa penetração com idade gestacional, concentração de beta-hCG, tipo de imagem ultra-sonográfica e dimensão da massa ectópica à ultra-sonografia e avaliar a possibilidade de predição dessa invasão pelos parâmetros estudados. MÉTODOS: realizou-se estudo retrospectivo, entre 1° de janeiro de 2000 a 31 de março de 2004, com 105 pacientes com gestação tubária ampular submetidas à salpingectomia. As imagens ectópicas foram classificadas pelo aspecto ultra-sonográfico em anel tubário, massa complexa e embrião com atividade cardíaca e sua dimensão foi obtida pela medida do maior eixo. Histologicamente a invasão trofoblástica na parede tubária foi classificada em grau I: quando limitada à mucosa da tuba uterina; grau II: até a camada muscular; grau III: invasão de toda a espessura da tuba uterina. RESULTADOS: 29 pacientes tiveram infiltração tubária grau I, 30 pacientes infiltração grau II e 46 pacientes infiltração grau III. Os graus de invasão trofoblástica não estiveram associados à idade gestacional (p = 0,53) nem ao maior diâmetro da imagem à ultra-sonografia (p = 0,43). Os diferentes graus de invasão trofoblástica apresentaram diferença significativa da beta-hCG (p < 0,001). O grau I apresentou valores menores que os graus II e III (p < 0,05) e o grau II valores menores que o grau III (p < 0,05). Houve associação entre o grau de invasão trofoblástica e a descrição do tipo de imagem identificada à ultra-sonografia (p = 0,001). Embrião com atividade cardíaca foi mais prevalente nos casos de invasão grau III. O valor de 2 400 mUI/ml apresentou sensibilidade de 82,8%, especificidade de 85,5%, valor preditivo positivo de 68,6% e valor preditivo negativo de 92,7% (acurácia de 84,8%) para determinar invasão trofoblástica grau I. beta-hCG de 5 990 mUI/ml foi o melhor ponto de corte para predição de invasão trofoblástica grau III: sensibilidade de 82,6%, especificidade de 74,6%, valor preditivo positivo de 71,7% e valor preditivo negativo de 84,6% (acurácia de 78,1%). CONCLUSÕES: Em gestações ampulares, o tecido trofoblástico se desenvolve a partir de sua penetração na parede tubária, a profundidade da penetração do trofoblasto na tuba uterina relaciona-se às concentrações séricas de beta-hCG e ao tipo de imagem ultra-sonográfica, sendo que a concentração sérica da beta-hCG é a melhor preditora da profundidade da invasão na tuba uterina. / INTRODUCTION: The definition of predictive factors of morphologic and functional damage to the Fallopian tube may help in the choice of treatment for patients with ectopic pregnancy. The objective of the present study was to verify the presence of trophoblastic invasion into the tubal wall in ampular pregnancies, correlate the depth of penetration of trophoblastic tissue into the tubal wall with gestational age, beta-hCG concentration, type of ultrasonographic image and dimension of the ectopic mass upon ultrasound, and to evaluate the possible prediction of this invasion based on the parameters studied. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 105 patients with ampular pregnancy submitted to salpingectomy between January 1, 2000 and March 31, 2004. Ectopic images were classified based on ultrasonographic findings in tubal ring, complex mass and embryonic heart activity. The dimension of the mass was determined by measuring the major axis. Histologically, trophoblastic invasion into the tubal wall was classified as grade I when limited to the tubal mucosa, grade II when reaching the muscle layer, and grade III when comprising the full thickness of the Fallopian tube. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients had tubal infiltration grade I, 30 had grade II and 46 had grade III. The level of trophoblastic invasion was associated neither with gestational age (p = 0.53) nor with a greater diameter of the ultrasound image (p = 0.43). The different levels of trophoblastic invasion were significantly associated with beta-hCG concentration (p < 0.001), with lower concentrations being observed for grade I compared to grades II and III (p < 0.05) and for grade II compared to grade III (p < 0.05). There was an association between the level of trophoblastic invasion and the type of ultrasonographic image (p = 0.001). Embryos with heart activity were more prevalent in cases of grade III invasion. beta-hCG levels of 2 400 mIU/ml showed 82.8% sensitivity, 85.5% specificity, a positive predictive value of 68.6% and a negative predictive value of 92.7% (84.8% accuracy) for the diagnosis of grade I trophoblastic invasion. A beta-hCG titer of 5990 mIU/ml was the best cut-off for the prediction of grade III trophoblastic invasion: 82.6% sensitivity, 74.6% specificity, positive predictive value of 71.7% and negative predictive value of 84.6% (78.1% accuracy). CONCLUSIONS: trophoblastic tissue penetrate tubal wall in ampular pregnancies, the depth of penetration of trophoblastic tissue is correlated with beta-hCG concentration and type of ultrasonographic image and beta-hCG titer is the best predictor of the depth of penetration into tubal wall.