The relationship of umbilical cord plasma cortisol levels to amniotic fluid infection.
Cord plasma cortisol concentrations were measured in 52 preterm infants and related to amniotic fluid infection as evidenced by positive bacterial cultures. The cortisol levels were significantly raised in the group with an infected intra-uterine environment (519 +/- 158 nm/l) compared with the non-infected group (325 +/- 134 nm/l). This effect was independent of length of gestation, duration of rupture of membranes, or duration of labour. Infants with fetal growth retardation had raised cortisol levels (555 +/- 207 nm/l), while maternal dexamethasone therapy suppressed the levels (197 +/- 76 nm/l). Only 2 infants developed hyaline membrane disease, and in both bacterial culture was negative and cord cortisol levels low (231 and 239 nm/l). It is suggested that amniotic fluid infection may play a role in reducing the incidence of hyaline membrane disease by increasing fetal cortisol production.
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male
D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone