title: Preterm meconium-stained amniotic fluid is an ominous sign for the development of chorioamnionitis and for in utero cord compression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) is rarely observed in preterm pregnancies, and its clinical significance is undetermined. We evaluated the correlation between MSAF and obstetrical and perinatal complications prior to 34 weeks' gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnancies complicated with MSAF between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation were compared with same gestational age-matched controls. The variables measured were: obstetrical complications: clinical chorioamnionitis, Intrahepatic Cohlestasis of Pregnancy - ICP, Intra Uterine Growth Restriction - IUGR, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes; nonobstetrical complications; and perinatal complications: cord around neck/body, Apgar <7 at 5 min, cord pH, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - NICU admission, complications during NICU hospitalization, and composite outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher incidence of clinical chorioamnionitis (15% versus 4.3%; p = 0.041) and higher incidence of cord around the neck/body were found in the MSAF group in comparison with the clear AF group (27.4% versus 18.4%; p = 0.04). No significant differences between the study's groups were found in nonobstetrical complications or other perinatal complications investigated in our study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MSAF in preterm pregnancy is an ominous sign for the occurrence of chorioamnionitis and for in utero cord compression. Therefore, MSAF in preterm pregnancies should be considered as a non-reassuring sign.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Lis Maternity Hospital, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brabbing-Goldstein
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Lis Maternity Hospital, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nir
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Lis Maternity Hospital, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Lis Maternity Hospital, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Many
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Lis Maternity Hospital, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv , Israel.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maslovitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003250:Constriction; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008470:Meconium; D053589:Nuchal Cord / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014470:Umbilical Cord
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Meconium; amniotic fluid; chorioamnionitis; complications; preterm