title: The preterm parturition syndrome.
abstract: The implicit paradigm that has governed the study and clinical management of preterm labour is that term and preterm parturition are the same processes, except for the gestational age at which they occur. Indeed, both share a common pathway composed of uterine contractility, cervical dilatation and activation of the membranes/decidua. This review explores the concept that while term labour results from physiological activation of the components of the common pathway, preterm labour arises from pathological signalling and activation of one or more components of the common pathway of parturition. The term "great obstetrical syndromes" has been coined to reframe the concept of obstetrical disease. Such syndromes are characterised by: (1) multiple aetiology; (2) long preclinical stage; (3) frequent fetal involvement; (4) clinical manifestations that are often adaptive in nature; and (5) gene-environment interactions that may predispose to the syndromes. This article reviews the evidence indicating that the pathological processes implicated in the preterm parturition syndrome include: (1) intrauterine infection/inflammation; (2) uterine ischaemia; (3) uterine overdistension; (4) abnormal allograft reaction; (5) allergy; (6) cervical insufficiency; and (7) hormonal disorders (progesterone related and corticotrophin-releasing factor related). The implications of this conceptual framework for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of preterm labour are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Perinatology Research Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. awarfiel@med.wayne.edu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kusanovic
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gotsch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erez
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chaiworapongsa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazor
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D036801:Parturition / Q000502:physiology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013577:Syndrome; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000502:physiology; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors