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Updated: Nov 17, 2025
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
Elevated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios in extremely preterm neonates with histologic chorioamnionitis
Aashray Singareddy1, Ashley Sang Eun Lee1, Patrick L Sweeney2
1Department of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
Objective:
Histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA) is a placental inflammation linked to preterm birth and adverse neonatal outcome. The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can identify various inflammatory disorders, however its utility in HCA is not clear. Our goal was to examine NLR values and HCA diagnoses in at-risk pregnancies and neonates.
Study Design:
We retrospectively analyzed the EHR of mothers and preterm (<33 wk GA) neonates with or without HCA (identified by placental histology). The NLR was calculated from complete blood counts in laboring women and in their neonates (0-24 h of life).
Result:
In 712 consecutive gestations, 50.8% had HCA (26.5% fetal HCA). The neonatal NLR (0-12 h, 13-24 h) predicted fetal HCA better than chance alone (p = 0.01 and 0.002, respectively).
Conclusion:
Early NLR elevation in preterm neonates is consistent with a diagnosis of fetal HCA. The NLR may identify preterm neonates at risk for HCA-related complications.
