Prediction of placental abruption by testing for C-reactive protein and chlamydial antibody levels in early pregnancy.

Objective: Placental abruption may be a manifestation of acute and chronic inflammatory process. We wanted to assess the association of first-trimester serum C-reactive protein (CRP), Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies, Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies or chlamydial heat-shock protein 60 (CHSP60) antibodies to placental abruption.

Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: University Hospital. Methods: A total of 181 women with subsequent placental abruption and 261 control women with normal pregnancy. Methods: Serum samples collected at first trimester (mean 10.4 gestational weeks) were analysed for CRP levels, C. pneumoniae-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies and C. trachomatis-specific IgG, IgA and CHSP60 antibodies. Methods: Placental abruption.

Results: The levels of CRP showed no difference between the cases and the controls (median 2.35 mg/l [interquartile range {IQR} 1.09-5.93] versus 2.28 mg/l [IQR 0.92-5.01], not significant). C. pneumoniae-specific IgG and IgA as well as C. trachomatis-specific IgG, IgA and CHSP60 antibody frequencies were similar between the groups. There was no association between CRP levels and chlamydial antibodies.

Conclusions: These markers of inflammation in early pregnancy failed to predict subsequent placental abruption.