title: The consequences of chorioamnionitis: preterm birth and effects on development.
abstract: Preterm birth is a major cause of perinatal mortality and long-term morbidity. Chorioamnionitis is a common cause of preterm birth. Clinical chorioamnionitis, characterised by maternal fever, leukocytosis, tachycardia, uterine tenderness, and preterm rupture of membranes, is less common than subclinical/histologic chorioamnionitis, which is asymptomatic and defined by inflammation of the chorion, amnion, and placenta. Chorioamnionitis is often associated with a fetal inflammatory response. The fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) is defined by increased systemic inflammatory cytokine concentrations, funisitis, and fetal vasculitis. Clinical and epidemiological studies have demonstrated that FIRS leads to poor cardiorespiratory, neurological, and renal outcomes. These observations are further supported by experimental studies that have improved our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for these outcomes. This paper outlines clinical and experimental studies that have improved our current understanding of the mechanisms responsible for chorioamnionitis-induced preterm birth and explores the cellular and physiological mechanisms underlying poor cardiorespiratory, neural, retinal, and renal outcomes observed in preterm infants exposed to chorioamnionitis.
authors.affiliation: Ritchie Centre, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, P.O. Box 5418, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia. r.galinsky@auckland.ac.nz
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galinsky
authors.forename: Graeme R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Polglase
authors.forename: Stuart B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: M Jane
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Timothy J M
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Moss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000209:etiology; D002821:Chorioamnionitis; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000209:etiology; D012377:Rodentia; D012756:Sheep; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides