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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
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A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
Published on: June 24, 2020
Intraobserver and interobserver variability for the histologic diagnosis of chorioamnionitis
Martin Simmonds1, Heather Jeffery, Geoffrey Watson
1R.P.A. Newborn Care, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia. martin.simmonds@north-bristol.swest.nhs.uk
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|January 30, 2004
Summary
Histopathologic diagnosis of chorioamnionitis is reliable. Two pathologists showed excellent agreement on placental slides, confirming the reproducibility of this important finding for future research.
Area of Science:
- Pathology
- Obstetrics
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Chorioamnionitis is a common placental infection.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for understanding perinatal outcomes.
- Histopathologic assessment is the gold standard for diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the histopathologic diagnosis of chorioamnionitis.
- To assess the consistency of diagnostic interpretation among pathologists.
- To establish the reproducibility of chorioamnionitis diagnosis for further research.
Main Methods:
- Two independent pathologists reviewed 250 archived placental slides.
- Examiners were blinded to original diagnoses and clinical information.
- Standardized definitions and a data recording protocol were used.
Main Results:
- High agreement was observed between the two examiners for chorioamnionitis diagnosis (kappa range 0.78-0.81).
- Excellent agreement was found between each examiner's review and their original diagnosis (kappa range 0.90-0.91).
- High reliability was also noted for diagnosing umbilical vessel vasculitis.
Conclusions:
- The histopathologic diagnosis of chorioamnionitis is reproducible and reliable.
- This validated diagnostic method supports further research into its association with adverse postnatal outcomes.
- The findings confirm the robustness of placental examination in perinatal pathology.
