title: Rate of recurrence of preterm premature rupture of membranes in consecutive pregnancies.
abstract: The reported incidence of preterm premature rupture of membranes ranges between 1% and 2% of all pregnancies. The rate of recurrence is poorly defined. The goal of this study was to establish the frequency of recurrence in a high-risk referral practice. Over a 5-year period we identified 121 patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes who had a minimum of two consecutive pregnancies under our care, resulting in a total of 255 pregnancies for analysis. Recurrent preterm premature rupture of membranes occurred in 39 of 121 patients, for a rate of 32.2% (95% confidence interval, 23.9 +/- 40.5). We were unable to demonstrate an association between the estimated gestational age at the time of rupture in the index pregnancy, latency period, interval between pregnancies, and the probability of repeat preterm premature rupture of membranes in the next pregnancy. We conclude that patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes should be counseled regarding the significant risk of recurrence and need to have close follow-up in their subsequent pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Irvine.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asrat
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Garite
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Major
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Nageotte
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Towers
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Dorchester
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies