Intrauterine inflammation and preterm delivery.

Ann N Y Acad Sci

Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece.

Published: September 2010

Spontaneous preterm delivery, prematurity, and low birth weight due to prematurity account for a great part of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Specifically, chronic amniotic fluid inflammation may cause preterm labor, with the involvement of different mediators that produce diverse aspects of the inflammatory response. Although bacteria are considered to be the main trigger for intrauterine infection/inflammation, viral infections also appear to be involved. Recently, molecular genetic techniques have helped us better understand the underlying pathophysiologic processes. This is especially important because epidemiological and experimental studies indicate that intrauterine infection and inflammation constitute a risk factor for adverse neurological outcome in preterm infants. Chronic subclinical chorioamnionitis associated with preterm birth can also modify lung development. Although no current clinical strategy is aimed at adapting the maternofetal inflammatory response, immunomodulators may serve as a future intervention in preterm embryos.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05684.xDOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

inflammation preterm
8
preterm delivery
8
inflammatory response
8
preterm
6
intrauterine inflammation
4
delivery spontaneous
4
spontaneous preterm
4
delivery prematurity
4
prematurity low
4
low birth
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!