title: C-reactive protein in vaginal fluid of patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in cervical amniotic fluid reflect the condition of the intrauterine environment in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM) before 35 weeks of gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Amniotic fluid was obtained in 29 consecutive patients admitted with the diagnosis of preterm PROM earlier than 35 weeks of gestation either by amniocentesis or by collecting cervical fluid. CRP was measured in maternal blood, amniotic fluid, vaginal fluid and in cord blood obtained at delivery. Intraamniotic infection was defined as a positive amniotic fluid for aerobic or anaerobic bacteria, or Mycoplasma. The placentas and umbilical cords were examined for the presence of chorioamnionitis and funisitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant correlation was found between vaginal fluid CRP concentrations and both amniotic fluid (r = 0.95, p < 0.001) and umbilical cord levels (r = 0.47, p < 0.05). No correlation was found between maternal blood and vaginal fluid CRP concentrations. The proportion of patients with intraamniotic infection was 37.9% (11/29). The median (range) vaginal fluid CRP concentration was higher in patients with intraamniotic infection than in those with sterile amniotic fluid [901 (0-1354) vs. 507 (0-798) ng/mL, p < 0.001]. The median (range) vaginal fluid CRP concentration was higher in fetuses with (n = 12) than in those without funisitis (n = 17) [901 (598-1354) vs. 487 (0-1115) ng/mL, p < 0.01]. After adjustment for gestational age, vaginal fluid CRP concentration > 800 ng/mL remained a predictor of intraamniotic infection and funisitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased vaginal fluid CRP concentration is associated with intraamniotic infection and funisitis. As CRP is produced by hepatocytes and does not cross the placenta, its measurement in vaginal fluid might be an additional parameter for the assessment of fetal well-being in patients with premature PROM.
authors: Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. edoardodinaro@hotmail.com
authors: Edoardo
authors: E
authors: Di Naro
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Ghezzi
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Raio
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Romano
authors: Michel D
authors: MD
authors: Mueller
authors: Jane
authors: J
authors: McDougall
authors: Ettore
authors: E
authors: Cicinelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014621:Vagina
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein