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Updated: May 26, 2026

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
08:50

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

Is chorioamnionitis harmful for the brain of preterm infants? A clinical overview

Milla Ylijoki1, Eeva Ekholm, Leena Haataja

  • 1Department of Pediatric Neurology, Turku University Hospital, Finland.

Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica
|January 11, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Chorioamnionitis, an infection during pregnancy, may not directly harm preterm infant brains. Antenatal steroids appear to mitigate inflammation, suggesting a complex role in infant neurodevelopment.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Neurology
  • Perinatal Medicine
  • Developmental Neuroscience

Background:

  • Chorioamnionitis is a known risk factor for preterm birth.
  • Potential links between chorioamnionitis and adverse neurological outcomes in preterm infants are debated.
  • Understanding these effects is crucial for improving infant brain health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically evaluate the impact of chorioamnionitis on the brains of preterm infants.
  • To synthesize evidence regarding chorioamnionitis, brain lesions, and neurological development.
  • To clarify the net effect of chorioamnionitis on preterm infant neurodevelopment.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted a systematic review of original research articles.
  • Searched databases for studies published up to October 2011.
  • Included 84 articles from an initial pool of 609 potentially relevant studies.

Main Results:

  • Most studies found no direct evidence of chorioamnionitis causing central nervous system damage in preterm infants.
  • Antenatal steroid treatment appears to reduce the negative effects of inflammation on the developing nervous system.
  • The overall impact of chorioamnionitis on infant brain development is complex, with potential benefits and risks.

Conclusions:

  • Chorioamnionitis may have both beneficial and detrimental effects on preterm infant brain development.
  • Inflammation associated with chorioamnionitis might promote maturation, potentially offering protective effects.
  • The risks associated with chorioamnionitis for preterm infant brains are comparable to other causes of preterm delivery.
Abstract

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