الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Premature rupture of membranes continues to be a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality it occurs approximately in 2-8% of all pregnancies and it is responsible for 20% of all perinatal deaths. Complications include maternal and fetal infection , preterm labor, asphyxia and if earlier in pregnancy pulmonary hypoplasia and anatomic distortion as a result of amniotic bands ( Nava Flores et al., 2003). Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity is frequently observed in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). It is a major risk factor for neonatal infection and adverse neonatal outcomes, which include bronchopulmonary dysplasia and periventricular leukomalacia (Wu et al., 2000). A noninvasive method of testing for maternal-fetal infection involves the detection of proinflammatory cytokines in vaginal secretions. Some studies have suggested that their presence in cervical or vaginal secretions is associated with microbial invasion of amniotic fluid. In particular, IL-6 has been associated with neonatal infection and adverse neonatal outcome in cases of PPROM. Several authors have studied the relationship between IL -6 concentrations in cervical and vaginal secretions and occurrence of preterm labor and amniotic infection. Only one of these studies dealt with the relationship between vaginal fluid IL – 6 concentration and neonatal infections in case of PPROM (Jun et al., 2000). So, this study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic value of interleukin – 6 in the vaginal secretion as an early predictor for neonatal infection in pregnant women with preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes. |