Maternal placental vasculopathy and infection: two distinct subgroups among patients with preterm labor and preterm ruptured membranes.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to find out whether patients delivered preterm because of preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes can be categorized according to clinical characteristics and placental pathologic findings.


METHODS
We performed a case-control study of 105 patients who were delivered preterm, 42 because of preterm labor and 63 because of premature rupture of membranes, and 105 patients who were delivered at term after uncomplicated pregnancies.


RESULTS
Maternal placental vascular lesions were present in 14 (34.1%) patients with preterm labor, 19 (35.1%) patients with premature rupture of membranes, and 9 (11.8%) control patients (odds ratios 3.8 and 4.0, 95% confidence intervals 1.3 to 11.1 and 1.5 to 10.8, p = 0.0065 and 0.0022, respectively). Infection of the products of conception was found in 16 patients (38%) with preterm labor, 23 patients (36.5%) with premature rupture of membranes, and 19 control patients (18%) (odds ratios 2.7 and 2.6, 95% confidence intervals 1.1 to 6.6 and 1.2 to 5.6, p = 0.017 and 0.01, respectively). Patients with maternal placental vasculopathy had significantly different characteristics compared with those of infected patients.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible to identify two subgroups of patients among those who are delivered preterm because of preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes, one with infection of the products of conception and another with maternal placental vasculopathy.
Arias
F
F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. John's Mercy Medical Center, St. Louis, MO.
Rodriquez
L
L
Rayne
S C
SC
Kraus
F T
FT
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology