Association of oligohydramnios in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes with an inflammatory response in fetal, amniotic, and maternal compartments.

Objective: This study was undertaken to examine whether oligohydramnios in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes is associated with evidence of fetal, amniotic, and maternal inflammatory responses.

Methods: Amniotic fluid index was measured before the performance of amniocentesis in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes. Fifty-nine patients who were delivered of preterm neonates (gestational age

Results: Thirty-two percent (19/59) of patients had an amniotic fluid index 5 cm (positive amniotic fluid culture result, 79% [15/19] vs 30% [12/40]; clinical chorioamnionitis, 37% [7/19] vs 5% [2/40]; histologic chorioamnionitis, 100% [17/17] vs 69% [24/35]; median amniotic fluid interleukin 6 concentration, 13.5 ng/mL; range, 0.2-142.2 ng/mL vs 3.0 ng/mL and 0.001-115.2 ng/mL; median amniotic fluid interleukin 1beta concentration, 348.0 pg/mL; range, 0.7->80, 000 pg/mL vs 36.6 pg/mL and 0-2075 pg/mL; median amniotic fluid tumor necrosis factor alpha concentration, 132.0 pg/mL; range, 0-1600 pg/mL vs 11.2 pg/mL and 0-1305 pg/mL; median cord plasma interleukin 6 concentration, 49.7 pg/mL; range, 4.4-7400 pg/mL vs 9. 1 pg/mL and 0-5211 pg/mL; P <.05 for each). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups of patients in the mean umbilical artery pH at birth.

Conclusions: Oligohydramnios in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes is associated with an inflammatory response in the fetal, amniotic, and maternal compartments.