title: Erythrocyte aggregation is increased in preterm premature rupture of the membranes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To asses the degree of erythrocyte aggregation in the peripheral blood of women with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective case control study. Twenty patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes and matched controls were recruited at the Lis Maternity Hospital. A slide test and image analysis were used to quantitate the degree of erythrocyte aggregation. Hematological indices and markers of inflammation such as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein were also compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vacuum radius (VR) of the study group was significantly higher than in the control group at 14.8+/-1.6 microm versus 10.0+/-1.0 microm, respectively (P=0.03). Other hematological indices were not changed significantly between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found an increase in erythrocyte aggregation in the peripheral blood of patients with preterm premature rupture of the membranes. We used this sensitive marker of inflammation to further support the theory that PPROM is an inflammatory state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel. ilevin@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: Ishai
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Limor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Helpman
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maslovitz
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pauzner
authors.forename: Itzhak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: Ronni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gamzu
authors.forename: Benny
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Almog
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein