Depression at birth in term infants exposed to maternal chorioamnionitis: does neonatal fever play a role?

Objectives: (1) To determine the incidence and the time course of elevated temperature following delivery in term infants with clinical chorioamnionitis (CHORIO) and (2) to determine if the extent of temperature elevation at birth is associated with increased likelihood of NICU Admissions, birth depression, or with short-term neurological abnormalities.

Design/methods: The infants were divided into two groups based on the median admission rectal temperature of 37.8 degrees C for the cohort.

Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography coupled with an early neurologic examination enhances prediction of term infants at risk for persistent encephalopathy.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine, first, whether an early neurologic examination could predict a persistent abnormal neonatal neurologic state comparable to the amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (a-EEG) and, second, whether a combination of the 2 methods would further enhance early identification of high-risk infants.

Methods: Fifty term infants were enrolled prospectively when they had evidence of intrapartum distress, Apgar score View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Clinical chorioamnionitis, elevated cytokines, and brain injury in term infants.

Objectives: To determine the initial inflammatory cytokine response in term infants born to mothers with clinical chorioamnionitis and to assess whether the cytokine response is associated with birth depression, abnormal neurologic examination, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Methods: Infants who were exposed to chorioamnionitis and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (n = 61) were studied prospectively. Cytokine concentrations were measured from umbilical cord blood and at 6 and 30 hours after birth.

Infection markers and early signs of neonatal encephalopathy in the term infant.

Recent evidence points to an association between intrauterine infection and cerebral palsy (CP) in the preterm as well as the term infant. The mechanisms that link these two conditions are unclear. Chorioamnionitis is a common clinical problem complicating 5-10% of pregnancies, whereas the incidence of CP attributed to intrapartum asphyxia is rare.