title: Relationship between C-reactive protein levels and intraamniotic infection in women with preterm labor.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and intraamniotic infection in 48 women presenting with preterm labor and intact membranes. Blood samples for CRP tests were obtained immediately before the performance of transabdominal amniocentesis. The prevalence of amniotic fluid cultures positive for organisms was 14.6%. In 16 women (33.3%) positive CRP levels were obtained. There were no significant differences in the prematurity rate or the prevalence of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity between women with positive CRP levels and women with negative levels. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for the detection of amniotic infection were 71.5%, 73.2%, 31.3% and 93.8%, respectively. Based on these results, we suggest that in women with preterm labor and negative CRP levels, routine amniocentesis may not be essential to the initial workup.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazor
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kassis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiznitzer
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kuperman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meril
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glezerman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein