Table 3.
Frequency of intra-amniotic inflammation and clinical outcomes in asymptomatic patients with a sonographic short cervix before 24 weeks of gestation according to the results of PCR/ESI-MS, AF cultures and AF interleukin 6 concentrations.
| No MIAC or intra-amniotic inflammation (n=77) | MIAC (n=13) | Microbial associated intra-amniotic inflammation (n=3) | Sterile intra-amniotic inflammation (n=15) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gestational age at amniocentesis (weeks) | 20.7 (19.3–22.5) | 21.7 (20.2–23.2) | 23.4 (21.8–23.6) | 21.1 (20.1–22.1) | 0.09 |
| Cervical length (mm) | 13 (8.5–17) | 12 (6.5–18) | 0 (0–1) | 0 (0–9) | <0.001 |
| AF white blood cells count (cells/mm3) | 3.5 (0.7–13.2) | 1 (0–3) | 2 (5–605) | 2 (2–6) | 0.26 |
| AF glucose (mg/dL) | 32 (27–36.7) | 37.8 (27–38.5) | 22.4 (24.3–36) | 26 (20–31) | 0.02 |
| AF interleukin-6 (ng/mL) | 0.4 (0.23–0.93) | 0.46 (0.19–0.66) | 3.0 (6.6–359) | 7.6 (4.4–22.3) | <0.001 |
| Amniocentesis-to-delivery interval (days) | 92 (38–121) | 103 (30–124) | 6 (4–18) | 16 (6–62) | <0.001 |
| Gestational age at delivery (weeks) | 34.5 (26.5–38.7) | 37.8 (27–38.5) | 24.2 (22.4–26.1) | 25 (20–30) | 0.001 |
| sPTD before 32 weeks | 35.1% (27) | 30.8% (4) | 100% (3) | 80% (12) | 0.02 |
| sPTD before 34 weeks | 46.8% (36) | 38.5% (5) | 100% (3) | 80% (12) | 0.03 |
| sPTD before 37 weeks | 53.2% (41) | 46.2% (6) | 100% (3) | 80% (12) | 0.09 |
| Acute placental inflammation¥ | 46.9% (30/64) | 36.4% (4/11) | 100% (3/3) | 41.7% (5/12) | 0.26 |
| Acute histologic chorioamnionitis | 46.9% (30) | 27.3% (3/11) | 100% (3/3) | 41.7% (5/12) | |
| Funisitis | 32.8% (21/64) | 27.3% (3/11) | 100% (3/3) | 25% (3/12) |
Data are presented as % (n/N). AF, amniotic fluid; MIAC, microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity; sPTD, spontaneous preterm delivery.
¥
Data were calculated over 90 placenta samples available for pathology examination in patients with a sonographic short cervix <24 weeks.