title: Expectant management of preterm premature rupture of membranes: is it all about gestational age?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to compare neonatal outcome in cases of uncomplicated preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) (ie, no evidence of clinical chorioamnionitis, placental abruption, or fetal distress) with that of spontaneous preterm deliveries (PTDs) and to determine the effect of the latency period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included women with PPROM at gestational age 28⁰(/)⁷-33⁶(/)⁷ weeks (n = 488). Neonatal outcome was compared with a matched control group of women with spontaneous PTD (n = 1464).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neonates in the uncomplicated PPROM group were at increased risk for composite adverse outcome (53.7% vs 42.0%; P < .001), mortality (1.6% vs 0.0%; P < .001), respiratory morbidity (32.8% vs 26.4%; P = .006), necrotizing enterocolitis, jaundice, hypoglycemia, hypothermia, and polycythemia. Neonatal adverse outcome was more likely in cases of latency period >7 days, oligohydramnios, male fetus, and nulliparity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consultation regarding prematurity-related morbidity in infants exposed to uncomplicated PPROM cannot be extrapolated from PTDs and should be stratified by the duration of the latency period and the other risk factors identified in the current study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Melamed
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben-Haroush
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.forename: Rony
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hadar
authors.forename: Moshe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hod
authors.forename: Yariv
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yogev
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors