| 1. |
- Wrande, T., et al.
(författare)
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Live birth, cumulative live birth and perinatal outcome following assisted reproductive treatments using donor sperm in single women vs. women in lesbian couples: a prospective controlled cohort study
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1058-0468 .- 1573-7330. ; 39, s. 629-637
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose Assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments with donor sperm have been allowed for women in lesbian relationships (WLR) since 2005 in Sweden, but for single women (SW), these became approved only recently in 2016. This study was conducted to compare the outcomes of ART treatments in SW vs. WLR. Methods This is a prospective controlled cohort study of 251 women undergoing intrauterine insemination (D-IUI) or in vitro fertilization (D-IVF) using donor sperm between 2017 and 2019 at the department of Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital. The cohort comprised 139 SW and 112 WLR. The main outcomes included differences in live birth rate (LBR) and cumulative live birth rate (cLBR) between the groups. The SW underwent 66 D-IUI and 193 D-IVF treatments and WLR underwent 255 D-IUI and 69 D-IVF treatments. Data on clinical characteristics, treatment protocols and clinical outcomes were extracted from the clinic's electronic database. The outcomes of D-IUI and D-IVF were separately assessed. Results The cohort of SW was significantly older than WLR (37.6 vs. 32.4 years, P < 0.001), and more commonly underwent IVF at first treatment (83% vs. 29%, P < 0.000). Conversely, WLR underwent more frequently D-IUI as a first treatment (71% vs. 17% of SW, P < 0.001) and more often in the natural cycle (89.9% vs. 70.8%, P = 0.019), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the main outcome LBR between the two groups, or between the two different types of treatment, when adjusted for age. Perinatal outcomes and cLBR were also similar among the groups. Conclusions SW were, on average, older than WLR undergoing treatment with donor sperm. No significant differences were seen in the LBR and cLBR when adjusted for age between the two groups and between the two types of treatment (D-IVF vs. D-IUI).
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| 2. |
- Aberšek, Nina, et al.
(författare)
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Calprotectin levels in amniotic fluid in relation to intra-amniotic inflammation and infection in women with preterm labor with intact membranes: A retrospective cohort study
- 2022
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Ingår i: European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-7654 .- 0301-2115. ; 272, s. 24-29
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To evaluate the concentrations of calprotectin in amniotic fluid with respect to intra-amniotic inflammation and infection and to assess the presence or absence of bacteria in the amnio-chorionic niche with respect to presence or absence of intra-amniotic inflammation. Study design: Seventy-nine women with singleton pregnancies and preterm labor with intact membranes (PTL) were included in the study. Amniotic fluid was collected at the time of admission by amniocentesis and calprotectin levels were analyzed from frozen/thawed samples using ELISA. Interleukin (IL)-6 concentration was measured by point-of-care test. Samples from amniotic fluid and the amnio-chorionic niche (space between amniotic and chorionic membranes) were microbiologically analyzed. Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) was diagnosed based on a positive PCR result for Ureaplasma species, Mycoplasma hominis, 16S rRNA or positive culture. Intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) was defined as amniotic fluid point-of-care IL-6 concentration ≥ 745 pg/mL. The cohort of included women was divided into 4 subgroups based on the presence or absence of IAI/MIAC; i) intra-amniotic infection, ii) sterile IAI, iii) intra-amniotic colonization and iv) neither MIAC nor IAI. Results: Women with intra-amniotic infection had a significantly higher intra-amniotic calprotectin concentration (median; 101.6 µg/mL) compared with women with sterile IAI (median; 9.2 µg/mL), women with intra-amniotic colonization (median; 2.6 µg/mL) and women with neither MIAC nor IAI (median 4.6 µg/mL) (p = 0.001). Moreover, significantly higher amniotic fluid calprotectin concentration was seen in women who delivered within 7 days (p = 0.003). A significant negative correlation was found between amniotic fluid calprotectin and gestational age at delivery (rho = 0.32, p = 0.003). Relatively more bacteria in the amnio-chorionic niche were found in the sterile IAI group compared with the other groups. Conclusions: Calprotectin concentrations in amniotic fluid were significantly higher in the intra-amniotic infection group compared with the other groups. Moreover, the bacterial presence in the amnio-chorionic niche was higher in IAI group.
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| 3. |
- Hallingström, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Proteomic Analysis of Early Mid-Trimester Amniotic Fluid Does Not Predict Spontaneous Preterm Delivery
- 2016
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 11:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective The aim of this study was to identify early proteomic biomarkers of spontaneous preterm delivery (PTD) in mid-trimester amniotic fluid from asymptomatic women. This is a case-cohort study. Amniotic fluid from mid-trimester genetic amniocentesis (14-19 weeks of gestation) was collected from 2008 to 2011. The analysis was conducted in 24 healthy women with subsequent spontaneous PTD (cases) and 40 randomly selected healthy women delivering at term (controls). An exploratory phase with proteomics analysis of pooled samples was followed by a verification phase with ELISA of individual case and control samples. The median (interquartile range (IQR: 25th; 75th percentiles) gestational age at delivery was 35+5 (33+6-36+6) weeks in women with spontaneous PTD and 40+0 (39+1-40+5) weeks in women who delivered at term. In the exploratory phase, the most pronounced differences were found in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, that were approximately two-fold higher in the pooled case samples than in the pooled control samples. However, we could not verify these differences with ELISA. The median (25th; 75th IQR) CRP level was 95.2 ng/mL (64.3; 163.5) in women with spontaneous PTD and 86.0 ng/mL (51.2; 145.8) in women delivering at term (p = 0.37; t-test). Proteomic analysis with mass spectrometry of mid-trimester amniotic fluid suggests CRP as a potential marker of spontaneous preterm delivery, but this prognostic potential was not verified with ELISA.
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| 4. |
- Hallingström, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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The association between selected mid-trimester amniotic fluid candidate proteins and spontaneous preterm delivery
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1476-7058 .- 1476-4954. ; 33:4, s. 583-592
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The aim of this study was to explore inflammatory response and identify early potential biomarkers in mid-trimester amniotic fluid associated with subsequent spontaneous preterm delivery (PTD). Methods: A cohort study was performed at Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Östra, Gothenburg, Sweden, between 2008 and 2010. Amniotic fluid was collected from consecutive women undergoing mid-trimester transabdominal genetic amniocentesis at 14–19 gestational weeks. Clinical data and delivery outcome variables were obtained from medical records. The analysis included 19 women with spontaneous PTD and 118 women who delivered at term. A panel of 26 candidate proteins was analyzed using Luminex xMAP technology. Candidate protein concentrations were analyzed with ANCOVA and adjusted for plate effects. Results: The median gestational age at delivery was 35 + 3 weeks in women with spontaneous PTD and 40 + 0 weeks in women who delivered at term. Nominally significantly lower amniotic fluid levels of adiponectin (PTD: median 130,695 pg/mL (IQR 71,852–199,414) vs term: median 185,329 pg/mL (IQR (135,815–290,532)), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (PTD: median 137 pg/mL (IQR 74–156) vs term: median 176 pg/mL (IQR 111–262)), and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (PTD: median 3025 pg/mL (IQR 1885–3891) vs term: median 3400 pg/mL (IQR 2181–5231)) were observed in the spontaneous PTD group, compared with the term delivery group, after adjusting for plate effects. No significant differences remained after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Conclusions: Our results are important in the process of determining the etiology behind spontaneous PTD but due to the non-significance after Bonferroni correction, the results should be interpreted with caution. Further analyses of larger sample size will be required to determine whether these results are cogent and to examine whether microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity or intra-amniotic inflammation occurs in asymptomatic women in the mid-trimester with subsequent spontaneous PTD.
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| 5. |
- Humla, E. C., et al.
(författare)
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Summer is not associated with higher live birth rates in fresh IVF/ICSI cycles: a population-based nationwide registry study
- 2022
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Ingår i: Human Reproduction Open. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2399-3529. ; 2022:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- STUDY QUESTION Is summer associated with a higher live birth rate after fresh IVF/ICSI? SUMMARY ANSWER There was no support for a higher live birth rate after fresh IVF/ICSI when treatment was performed during the summer season. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Seasonal variations in human natural conception and birth rates are well described. It has been hypothesized that serum vitamin D, levels of which are associated with sun exposure, may have a role in human natural conception rates. However, the association between seasons and IVF outcomes has not yet been clarified and conflicting reports have been published. Furthermore, it has been suggested that women with normal vitamin D levels have a better pregnancy outcome after ART compared to those with vitamin D insufficiency. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A nationwide, register-based cohort study including all first-time fresh IVF/ICSI treatments (n = 52 788) leading to oocyte retrieval in Sweden between 2009 and 2018 was carried out. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS All first-time fresh IVF/ICSI cycles leading to oocyte retrieval were identified in the National Quality Registry of Assisted Reproduction. Data collected included patient characteristics as well as information about the treatment cycle and pregnancy outcome. The patients were divided into season subgroups, (summer, autumn, winter and spring) based on the date of oocyte retrieval. The primary outcome was live birth rate, which was defined as the number of live births per oocyte retrieval and embryo transfer (ET). Other outcomes included clinical pregnancy per ET and miscarriage per clinical pregnancy. Logistic regression with multiple imputation was performed to evaluate whether there was an association between season and IVF/ICSI outcomes, with summer as reference. Adjustments were made for woman's age, year of treatment, BMI, total FSH/hMG dose, type of treatment, fertilization type, embryonic stage at ET and number of embryos transferred. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Live birth rate per oocyte retrieval ranged between 24% and 26% among seasons. A significantly higher live birth rate was seen for spring compared with summer, 26% versus 24%, respectively (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.16, P = 0.02). No significant association was seen when winter and autumn were compared with summer. Live birth rate per ET ranged between 29% and 31% among seasons. A significantly higher live birth rate was seen for spring and autumn compared with summer, at 31% and 31%, respectively versus 29% (adjusted OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.16, P = 0.04 and adjusted OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.16, P = 0.02), respectively. No significant association was seen when winter was compared with summer. Clinical pregnancy rate varied between 36% and 38% and miscarriage rate between 16% and 18%, with no significant seasonal associations. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Possible limitations are the retrospective design of the study and unmeasured confounders. Another limitation is that a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was not used. The use of a GEE model would have made it possible to include all started fresh IVF/ICSI cycles since it allows for correction for any dependence between cycles within women. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The results of this large registry study give no support for the hypothesis that IVF/ICSI treatments performed during summer season, with the highest degree of sunlight and vitamin D synthesis, is associated with higher pregnancy and live birth rates. In fact, our results showed significantly lower live birth rates during summer compared with spring and autumn. However, the magnitude of this difference was small and unlikely of clinical value. We suggest that season should not be taken into consideration when planning and performing fresh IVF/ICSI treatments. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) Financial support was received through the Swedish state under the agreement between the Swedish government and the county councils, the ALF-agreement (ALFGBG-70 940) and grants from the Hjalmar Svensson's Research Foundation (HJSV2021019 and HJSV2021037). None of the authors declare any conflict of interest.
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| 6. |
- Thorell, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity is associated with impaired cognitive and motor function at school age in preterm children.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Pediatric research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1530-0447 .- 0031-3998. ; 87:5, s. 924-931
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chorioamnionitis is an important cause of preterm delivery. Data on neurodevelopmental outcome in exposed infants are inconsistent due to difficulties in diagnosing intrauterine infection/inflammation and lack of detailed long-term follow-up. We investigate cognitive and motor function in preterm infants at early school age and relate the findings to bacteria in amniotic fluid obtained by amniocentesis (microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC)) or placenta findings of histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) or fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS).Sixty-six infants with gestational age <34 weeks at birth and without major disabilities were assessed using WISC-III and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. Results were corrected for gestational age and sex.Children exposed to MIAC had significantly lower scores for full-scale IQ and verbal IQ compared to the non-MIAC group and the difference in full-scale IQ remained after correction for confounding factors. The MIAC group had also significantly lower motor scores after correction. In contrast, motor function was not affected in infants exposed to HCA or FIRS and differences between groups for cognitive scores were lost after corrections.Exposure to bacteria in amniotic fluid is associated with lower motor and cognitive scores in school age preterm infants without major disabilities.
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| 7. |
- Tsiartas, Panos
(författare)
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Maternal and placental inflammatory biomarkers in spontaneous preterm delivery - Predictive ability, stability and neonatal associations
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Preterm delivery (PTD), spontaneous or iatrogenic, causes short- and long-term morbidity and underlies almost 75% of neonatal deaths. The prevalence in the Nordic countries is about 6% but it differs among countries. In the USA, for instance, it is around 9.6%. The origin of spontaneous PTD is mostly unknown. However, infection and inflammation are leading causes, mainly at early gestational ages. Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) occurs in 12-14% of symptomatic women with preterm labor (PTL) and in 37-43% of women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM). MIAC elicits an inflammatory response mediated by cytokines, chemokines and other peptides, known as intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI). IAI causes early onset of symptoms, early gestational age at delivery and, consequently, worse neonatal outcome. Chemokines induce chemotaxis in neutrophils and macrophages, enhancing their migration to the placenta and fetal membranes. This process, known as histological chorioamnionitis (HCA), occurs in more than half of spontaneous PTD cases. Early detection of spontaneous PTD presents a challenge because most women who deliver preterm have no obvious risk factors that can be identified early. Indeed, more than half of spontaneous PTDs occur in lowrisk pregnancies. One aim of the studies in this thesis was to study whether non-invasive strategies could predict the occurrence of spontaneous PTD within 7 days, as well as the rate of MIAC. We found that a combination of maternal serum proteins and cervical length constituted the most accurate prediction model for spontaneous PTD within 7 days of testing. However, we observed few differences between maternal serum protein levels in MIAC-positive PTL and PPROM cases. An additional aim was to study the effect of different pre-analytical handling procedures on concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), the cytokine most reported as a biomarker of IAI. We found that differences in handling procedures did not affect amniotic fluid IL-6 levels. Furthermore, these studies investigated the relationship between neonatal outcome and placental histological findings in women with PPROM. We found that HCA and funisitis increased the risk of early-onset neonatal sepsis and retinopathy of prematurity in PPROM pregnancies.
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| 8. |
- Tsiartas, Panos, et al.
(författare)
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P–459 Ex vivo perfusion of whole ewe ovaries with follicular maturation for up to seven days: towards the development of an alternative fertility preservation method
- 2021
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Ingår i: Human Reproduction Vol 36 Issue Supplement 1. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0268-1161.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Abstract Study question To develop an alternative fertility preservation method for young female cancer patients based on an ex vivo perfusion of whole ovaries serving as a platform for future ovarian stimulation studies. Summary answer It is possible to maintain viable follicles and to retrieve oocytes after ex vivo perfusion of ewe ovaries for up to 7 days. What is known already Some progress has been made in terms of follicular growth and the isolation of mature oocytes in vitro. However, full development, from early follicular stages to a viable offspring, has only been described in rodent models. The complex events controlling follicular expansion and the long time required for folliculogenesis and oocyte maturity in large mammalian species creating challenges and limitations for in vitro studies. Ex vivo perfusion of a whole ovary could potentially be a solution by exploiting the intact ovarian architecture to support folliculogenesis and oocyte maturation. Study design, size, duration Thirty-one ewe ovaries were divided into 4 groups and ex vivo perfused in a bioreactor. Group 1 (n=14) perfusion for 48hours with no hormone supplementation; Group 2 (n=4) perfusion 96–101hours with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH); Group 3 (n=3) perfusion 120–168hours with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG); Group 4 (n=10) perfusion 72–144hours with hMG. Participants/materials, setting, methods Ewe ovaries from sexually mature ewes were ex vivo perfused in a bioreactor under normothermic conditions for up to 7 days (max total 168hours). Histomorphological, immunohistochemical, hormonal and biochemical analyses were performed to assess ovarian structure and viability after cold ischemia and after perfusion which was subsequently compared to control ovaries. Main results and the role of chance The perfused ovaries in group 2 and 3 showed no significant differences in follicular density, viability and oocyte quality after ischemia and perfusion compared to control ovaries. Estradiol and progesterone levels did not increase during the perfusion. The perfused ovaries in group 1 and 4 showed a significant decrease in the ovarian reserve and oocyte quality. In total, 16 GV-MI oocytes were retrieved from groups 3 and 4. Limitations, reasons for caution 1. Ovaries were retrieved from ewes of unknown cycle and reproductive history. 2. The perfusion medium was changed after 24hours from perfusion start to remove detrimental metabolites and this could affect the measured concentrations of hormones and metabolites in the perfusion medium. Wider implications of the findings: These results pave the way to propose ex vivo perfusion as a good platform for fertility preservation studies on whole mammalian and human ovaries to retrieve fully mature oocytes. Trial registration number Not applicable
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| 9. |
- Tsiartas, Panos, et al.
(författare)
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Prediction of spontaneous preterm delivery in women with threatened preterm labour: a prospective cohort study of multiple proteins in maternal serum
- 2012
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Ingår i: BJOG -International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. - : Wiley. - 1470-0328. ; 119:7, s. 866-873
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Please cite this paper as: Tsiartas P, Holst R, Wennerholm U, Hagberg H, Hougaard D, Skogstrand K, Pearce B, Thorsen P, Kacerovsky M, Jacobsson B. Prediction of spontaneous preterm delivery in women with threatened preterm labour: a prospective cohort study of multiple proteins in maternal serum. BJOG 2012;119:866873. Objective To analyse whether specific proteins in maternal serum and cervical length, alone or in combination, can predict the likelihood that women with intact membranes with threatened preterm labour will deliver spontaneously within 7 days of sampling. Design Cohort study. Setting Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Population Women at between 22 and 33 weeks of gestation with threatened preterm labour (n = 142) admitted to the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden, in 19952005. Methods Maternal serum was tested for 27 proteins using multiplex xMAP technology. Individual levels of each protein were compared, and calculations were performed to investigate potential associations between different proteins, cervical length and spontaneous preterm delivery. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to find the best cut-off values for continuous variables in relation to spontaneous preterm delivery within 7 days of sampling. Prediction models were created based on a stepwise logistic regression using binary variables. Main outcome measure Spontaneous preterm delivery within 7 days. Results In order to determine the best prediction model, we analysed models of serum proteins alone, cervical length alone, and the combination of serum proteins and cervical length. We found one multivariable combined model through the data analysis that more accurately predicted spontaneous preterm delivery within 7 days. This model was based on serum interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels, serum RANTES levels and cervical length (sensitivity 74%, specificity 87%, positive predictive value 76%, negative predictive value 86%, likelihood ratio 5.8 and area under the curve 0.88). Conclusions A combination of maternal serum proteins and cervical length constituted the best prediction model, and would help determine whether women with threatened preterm labour are likely to deliver within 7 days of measurement.
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| 10. |
- Tsiartas, Panos, et al.
(författare)
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The association between histological chorioamnionitis, funisitis and neonatal outcome in women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes.
- 2013
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Ingår i: The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1476-4954. ; 26:13, s. 1332-1336
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract Objective: To determine the impact of histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) and funisitis on neonatal outcome in preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) pregnancies. Methods: Women with PPROM between 24+0 to 36+6 weeks of gestation, admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University Hospital Hradec Kralove in the Czech Republic, between July 2008 and October 2010, were enrolled in the study (n=231). Results: The incidence of early-onset sepsis (EOS) differed significantly in neonates born to women with and without HCA, after adjustment for gestational age (11% versus 1%, p=0.011). The incidence of EOS in neonates was also significantly different, after adjustment for gestational age, in cases with and without funisitis (18% versus 4%, p=0.002). The same was also found for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) cases with and without funisitis (23% versus 4%, p=0.014), after adjustment for gestational age. Conclusions: HCA and funisitis increase the risk of adverse perinatal outcome in PPROM pregnancies.
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