Korean J Perinatol.  2010 Mar;21(1):66-73.

The Effects of Histologic Chorioamnionitis and Funisitis on Outcome of Very Low Birth Weight Infants

• Lee YJ
• Song ES
• Song TB
• Choi YY

Abstract

PURPOSE
The association of chorioamnionitis and preterm birth, chronic lung disease (CLD) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) has been reported, however, controversy is still present. The aim of this study was to investigate how the histologic chorioamnionitis (HC) and/or funisitis (F) affected the clinical outcomes of very low birth weight infants (VLBWI, <1,500 g).
METHODS
The medical records of VLBWI who were admitted at NICU, Chonnam University Hospital from 2004 to 2008 with placental biopsy results were reviewed retrospectively. Maternal (n=324) and neonatal (n=363) characteristics and their clinical outcomes were investigated according to placental pathology.
RESULTS
HC (+) mothers (n=88) had higher premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor, and lower rates of preeclampsia/eclampsia (p<0.05 at each) than HC (-) mothers (n=236). HC (+) infants (n=103) had lower birth weight and Apgar score, higher rate of Cesarean section and lower intrauterine growth restriction (p<0.05 at each) rates than HC (-) infants (n=260). HC (+) infants had higher rates of respiratory distress syndrome and mortality, and lower rate of necrotizing enterocolitis (p<0.05 at each), however, when adjusted for verified multivariables in the multiple regression analysis, HC didn't affect the clinical outcomes.
CONCLUSION
It was known that intrauterine infection or fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) was associated with neonatal outcomes. However, our results suggest that HC with or without funisitis is not an isolated risk factor to affect the clinical outcomes in VLBWI.

Keyword

Histologic chorioamnionitis; Funisitis; VLBWI; Clinical outcomes

MeSH Terms

Apgar Score
Biopsy
Birth Weight
Cesarean Section
Chorioamnionitis
Enterocolitis, Necrotizing
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
Leukomalacia, Periventricular
Lung Diseases
Medical Records
Membranes
Mothers
Obstetric Labor, Premature
Pregnancy
Premature Birth
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Rupture