The possible role of intrauterine infections in unexplained second trimester abortions and macerated stillbirths: a study from a single center.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of intrauterine infections in unexplained second trimester abortions and stillbirths.


METHODS
Histopathologic and microbiologic evidence of intrauterine infection in the placentas, fetal membranes and fetal lung tissues of 18 unexplained second trimester abortions and macerated stillbirth cases as well as the placentas and fetal membranes of 10 healthy term neonates were investigated in a prospective study conducted in Ankara University School of Medicine, Turkey.


RESULTS
Histopathologic chorioamnionitis and placental culture positivity rates in the study and control groups were 64.7 vs 0%. Bacteria were recovered from 90.9% of placentas and 36.4% of fetal lungs of the cases with histopathologic chorioamnionitis. Intrauterine infection was found in 66.7% of the whole study group, in 85.7% of the unexplained second trimester abortions, and in 54.5% of the macerated stillbirths.


CONCLUSIONS
Intrauterine infection may be an important factor in unexplained stillbirths and second trimester abortions in centers where pregnancy follow-ups lack evaluation for asymptomatic infection.
Atay
Gulsum Akdag
GA
Department of Pediatrics, Ankara University School of Medicine, Turkey.
Arsan
Saadet
S
Atasay
Begum
B
Ensari
Arzu
A
Aysev
Derya
D
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy