Preterm delivery is one of the main causes of perinatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. It is an escalating problem in Czech Republic and has increased to 6 %. Premature rupture of the membranes is defined as fetal membranes rupture with leakage of amniotic fluid that precedes the onset of uterine contraction by at least 2 hours. It complicates 4-7 % of all births and is directly associated with a short length of gestation and an increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. There are predisposing conditions connected with the occurrence of premature rupture of the membranes such as local infections, cervical incompetence and low socio-economic condition (5, 13). Even so, the aetiology still remains unknown in the majority of cases. Increased biosynthesis of prostaglandins by intrauterine tissue is widely accepted as a key event in the initiation of parturition (8). Preterm labour after spontaneous rupture of the membranes is associated with a significant increase in amniotic fluid concentration of prostaglandins. A main reason of this elevation is probably infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cervical colonization by genital mycoplasmas (Ureaplasma urealyticum and/or Mycoplasma hominis) in patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM). The cervical detection rates of genital mycoplasmas were compared with a normal population of pregnant women in the Czech Republic. Patients and method Study populationThe study population involved 225 pregnant women with PPROM (gestation age between 24 and 36 weeks) who were admitted to the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Most from January 2004 to February 2007. There were no differences in the demographic data of the groups studied and all groups were similar with regard to parity and gravidity. Their age at the time of diagnosis ranged from 19 to 38 years (median age 26). Women with multiple gestation or major fetal anomaly were excluded from the study. Written consent was obtained from each patient. Rupture of membranes was diagnosed by an examination with a sterile speculum and a combination of vaginal pooling of amniotic fluid and the nitrazine test or a positive result for insulin-like growth factor binding protein -1 (PROM test) in the vaginal fluid. Cervical swabs were obtained for detecting genital mycoplasmas and standard vaginal smears of bacterial culture were performed at the time of their admission. Sample of maternal blood was obtained for investigation of maternal CRP level. The control group comprised 225 otherwise healthy women in the mid trimester of pregnancy (gestation age between 24-28 weeks) from whom we obtained cervical swabs for genital mycoplasmas during routine prenatal examination. All these women delivered between 38th and 41st week of gestation without ad- Summary: Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cervical colonization by genital mycoplasmas in patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM). Method: We studied 225 women between...
Fetal blood sampling was possible during the third trimester of pregnancy by direct puncture of the umbilical vein near its placental insertion, using a needle guided by ultrasound. Between 2 and 6 ml of pure fetal blood were obtained from three pregnancies without adverse effect on the fetuses. If this new procedure proves t o have an acceptable complication rate it should widen the field of prenatal diagnosis for the detection of treatable diseases of the fetus.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.