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Updated: May 28, 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
Amniotic fluid inflammatory score is associated with pregnancy outcome in patients with mid trimester short cervix
Daniel G Kiefer1, Sean M Keeler, Orion Rust
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA, USA.
Objective:
We propose a novel amniotic fluid inflammatory score from a comprehensive cytokine analysis of patients with mid-trimester short cervix.
Study Design:
Amniotic fluid from singleton gestations (n = 44) with a cervical length of ≤25 mm between 16-24 weeks was assayed for 25 inflammatory mediators. Patient data were stratified according to gestational age at delivery (<34 vs ≥34 weeks). Mediators that reached statistical significance were included in the amniotic fluid inflammatory score. Patients were assigned 1 point for each significant mediator if their level was in the upper quartile. The amniotic fluid inflammatory score was determined, and its relationship to other clinical characteristics was examined.
Results:
Fourteen mediators met the criteria. A score of ≥8 was predictive of delivery at <34 weeks' gestation (sensitivity, 87.0%; specificity, 100%; positive predictive value, 100%; negative predictive value, 87.5%). Twenty patients had a high inflammatory score (≥8); 24 patients had a low score. All patients with a high inflammatory score delivered at <30 weeks' gestation.
Conclusion:
The amniotic fluid inflammatory score is related to delivery outcome and clinical characteristics.
