The relationship of maternal antibody levels to post-cesarean section endometritis.
One hundred eight pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody levels were determined by radioimmunoassay preoperatively in 18 patients who underwent elective repeat cesarean section. Eight patients developed post-cesarean section endometritis, and 10 did not. The endometritis group did not vary significantly from the noninfected group in preoperative hematocrit, social status, number of previous pregnancies, maternal and newborn weights, length of operation, and Apgar scores. Mean antibody levels in the endometritis group were significantly lower than those in the control group (49 versus 103 ng/ml; p less than 0.05). Mean antibody levels for the six serotypes in the endometritis group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p less than 0.05). This study indicated that a healthy maternal immune system may play an important role in preventing post-cesarean section morbidity. Pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody levels may be used in pregnancy to assess the risk for post-cesarean section infections.
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004716:Endometritis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011645:Puerperal Infection / Q000276:immunology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial