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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

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
Chorioamnionitis and neonatal encephalopathy in term infants with fetal acidemia: histopathologic correlations
Lina Shalak1, Sarah Johnson-Welch, Jeffrey M Perlman
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence or severity of histologic abnormalities of infection/inflammation such as chorioamnionitis, vasculitis, or funisitis confers an additional risk for neonatal encephalopathy in term infants delivered in the presence of severe fetal acidosis. The medical records as well as placental pathology of term infants (n = 51) born with a cord umbilical arterial pH <7.00 were reviewed. Abnormal outcome was predefined as Sarnat stage 2 or 3 neonatal encephalopathy in the first week of life or neonatal death as a consequence of severe brain injury. Consistent with prior data, the presence of severe fetal acidemia, a low 5-minute Apgar score, and need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation were significantly associated with neonatal encephalopathy. However, the presence of histologic chorioamnionitis had a poor predictive value and did not confer additional risk for the subsequent development of neonatal encephalopathy.
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