Association of amniotic fluid sludge with preterm labor and histologic chorioamnionitis in pregnant Japanese women with intact membranes: A retrospective study.

Abstract

AIM:

The presence of amniotic fluid sludge has been identified as a risk factor for preterm birth. We sought to validate the clinical characteristics of amniotic fluid sludge in Japanese pregnant women with preterm labor and intact membranes.

METHODS:

This was a retrospective study of 54 patients. The presence of amniotic fluid sludge was confirmed using transvaginal ultrasonography data during pregnancy. The following data were collected: gestational age, the presence of histologic chorioamnionitis, time from the diagnosis of threatened premature labor to delivery, oncofetal fibronectin (onfFN) levels, C-reactive protein peak value levels, cervical length at the time of onset of threatened premature labor and types of neonatal complications.

RESULTS:

Significant differences (P = 0.03) were observed in the age at delivery in relation to the presence of amniotic sludge: delivery occurred at 28.3 ± 4.5 weeks and 31.7 ± 4.3 weeks in sludge positive patients and sludge-negative patients, respectively. Presence of sludge in patients diagnosed with histological chorioamnionitis at <37 weeks of gestation differed significantly (P = 0.01): sludge-positive, 81.8%; sludge-negative, 20.9%. Among the sludge-positive patients, 100% were positive for serum onfFN (≥50 ng/mL), whereas only 54% of sludge-negative patients were positive for serum onfFN (P = 0.03). Presence of amniotic fluid sludge did not significantly affect neonatal complications.

CONCLUSION:

Our results confirmed previous findings that amniotic fluid sludge is a self-determining risk factor for preterm birth and chorioamnionitis in pregnant Japanese women.

• Authors: Shun Yasuda, Masayo Tanaka, Hyo Kyozuka, Satoshi Suzuki, Akiko Yamaguchi, Yasuhisa Nomura, Keiya Fujimori
• Journal: The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research (J Obstet Gynaecol Res) Vol. 46 Issue 1 Pg. 87-92 (Jan 2020) ISSN: 1447-0756 [Electronic] Australia
• PMID: 31595591 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2019 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Chemical References

• Fibronectins
• oncofetal fibronectin

Topics

• Adult
• Amnion (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Amniotic Fluid (diagnostic imaging)
• Cervical Length Measurement
• Cervix Uteri (diagnostic imaging)
• Chorioamnionitis (diagnostic imaging, etiology, pathology)
• Female
• Fibronectins (blood)
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Newborn, Diseases (etiology)
• Japan
• Obstetric Labor, Premature (diagnostic imaging, etiology, pathology)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Complications, Infectious (diagnostic imaging, etiology, pathology)
• Pregnancy Outcome
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Ultrasonography, Prenatal (methods)