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Choriodecidual infection and preterm birth
Robert L Goldenberg1, William W Andrews, John C Hauth
1University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 35249-7333, USA.
Nutrition Reviews
|May 31, 2002
Summary
Preterm birth, affecting 11% of U.S. births, is often caused by bacterial infections. Eradicating these infections aims to reduce preterm labor and improve infant outcomes, but treatment results are mixed.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics
- Neonatology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Preterm birth complicates 11% of U.S. births, leading to significant perinatal mortality and morbidity.
- Infants born weighing less than 1000 grams or before 28 weeks gestation face the highest risks.
- Bacterial infections of the chorioamnion, originating from the vagina, are increasingly implicated as a primary cause of preterm birth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of bacterial infections in preterm birth.
- To understand the inflammatory mechanisms driving preterm labor and membrane rupture.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of treatment trials aimed at infection eradication and preterm birth reduction.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent evidence linking bacterial chorioamnionitis to preterm birth.
- Analysis of inflammatory pathways, including cytokine, prostaglandin, and metalloprotease production.
- Examination of results from clinical trials targeting infection treatment.
Main Results:
- Bacterial infections are suggested to cause the majority of preterm births.
- Inflammatory processes involving cytokines, prostaglandins, and metalloproteases are key mechanisms.
- Treatment trials for infection eradication have yielded mixed results in reducing preterm birth.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial infections play a significant role in preterm birth etiology.
- Understanding inflammatory pathways is crucial for managing preterm labor.
- Further research is needed to optimize interventions for preventing preterm birth.