Correlation of amniotic fluid glucose concentration and intraamniotic infection in patients with preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes
Article Abstract:
Because intraamniotic infection (infection of the membranes that surround the fetus) is associated with complications and, in some cases, fetal death, prompt diagnosis is imperative. This can be difficult because cultures of amniotic fluid may take several days to yield results and because other diagnostic methods have low sensitivity. One promising diagnostic approach is to measure the glucose concentration in a sample of amniotic fluid. This method was evaluated in a study of 204 patients with preterm labor (113 cases) or premature rupture of membranes (91 cases). Subjects were no more than 34 weeks' pregnant. Transabdominal amniocentesis (insertion of a needle into the amniotic sac and extraction of a small amount of fluid) was performed and the sample was tested for the presence of microorganisms. Glucose concentrations were also measured, and the results from all these analyses were compared. Amniotic fluid cultures tested positive for 18 women in preterm labor (16 percent) and for 49 women with premature rupture of membranes (53.8 percent). Patients with positive culture results had lower levels of amniotic fluid glucose than those with negative results. The sensitivity (ability of the test to correctly identify women who actually are infected) of glucose levels for predicting culture results was 79 percent. The specificity (ability to correctly identify women who are not infected) of the assay was 94 percent. Its positive and negative predictive values were 87 percent and 90 percent, respectively. A discussion is presented of the physiological significance of amniotic fluid glucose levels. It is concluded that measuring these levels is a rapid and sensitive way of diagnosing subclinical (asymptomatic) intraamniotic infection in women with preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-9378
Year: 1991
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Prior pregnancy outcome and the risk of intraamniotic infection in the following pregnancy
Article Abstract:
The risk of intraamniotic infection may be higher in pregnant women who had an early termination of the previous pregnancy. Infection of the amniotic fluid increases the risk of infection or death in the newborn and the risk of pregnancy-related illness in the mother. Researchers compared previous pregnancies of 585 women with intraamniotic infection and 575 healthy pregnant women. The rate of intraamniotic infection was higher in women who had a spontaneous or elective abortion in their previous pregnancy.
Publication Name: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-9378
Year: 1998
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