Comparison of the Incidences of Neonatal Morbidities by Different Criteria of Histologic Chorioamnionitis in Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborns

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The objective of the study was to compare the incidences of the neonatal morbidity, using the various criteria of histologic chorioamnionitis (HC) in the extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGANs), who were born before the 28 weeks of gestational age. METHODS: Sixty two ELGANs who were born and admitted to the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from 2007 to 2011 were included. A total of seven criteria of HC were made according to the site within the placenta and the extent of the neutrophil infiltration. The incidence of the major neonatal morbiditiy was compared between the HC-exposed and the HC-unexposed ELGANs according to each criterion of HC. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the birth weight, gestational age, and sex between the HC-exposed and the HC-unexposed ELGANs by any criteria. The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was significantly lower in the HC-exposed ELGANs only in the criterion of any extent of the umbilical cord inflammation (funisitis). The incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was significantly higher in the HC-exposed ELGANs in the criterion of any extent of amnionitis or funisitis. The incidences of other major morbidities did not differ between the HC-exposed and the HC-unexposed ELGANs by any criteria. CONCLUSION: The presence of funisitis reflected the lung maturation effect of chorioamnionitis, as indicated by the decreased incidence of RDS. Among other major neonatal morbidities, only ROP was significantly associated with HC. The ROP occurred more frequently in the funisitis or amnionitis-exposed ELGANs.