Acute appendicitis in pregnancy and the occurrence of major intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia.
BACKGROUND
Infection and endotoxemia have been associated with neurologic injury in the newborn. In addition, recent reports have noted an increased incidence of fetal neurologic injury in the presence of intrauterine infection.


METHODS
Three pregnancies complicated by acute appendicitis and refractory preterm labor resulting in the delivery of neonates who developed early major intraventricular hemorrhage and/or periventricular leukomalacia are described.


CONCLUSIONS
We hypothesize that extrauterine infections like acute appendicitis may play a role in the occurrence of neonatal neurologic injury.
Mays
J
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Medical College, Westchester County Medical Center, Valhalla, USA.
Verma
U
U
Klein
S
S
Tejani
N
N
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001064:Appendicitis; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications