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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
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Histologic chorioamnionitis and fat mass accretion in infants born preterm
Emily Gunawan1, Viral G Jain1, Shakia Hardy2
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Pediatric Research
|September 19, 2025
Summary
Severe chorioamnionitis in preterm infants is linked to increased fat mass (FM) accretion by term-equivalent age. This association, independent of gestational age, may influence long-term body composition.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal research
- Perinatal medicine
- Pediatric endocrinology
Background:
- In utero insults, like chorioamnionitis, are linked to adverse infant outcomes.
- Chorioamnionitis is prevalent in preterm births and associated with increased risks.
- Understanding its impact on infant body composition is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between chorioamnionitis and fat mass (FM) in very preterm infants.
- To analyze the impact of chorioamnionitis severity on FM accretion.
- To explore potential mediating factors in this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of mother-infant dyads born before 32 6/7 weeks gestation.
- Infant FM measured by air displacement plethysmography at term-equivalent age.
- Chorioamnionitis severity assessed via placental pathology (MIR and FIR); analyzed using regression and mediation analyses.
Main Results:
- Infants exposed to chorioamnionitis (MIR) had significantly higher FM (kg and z scores) compared to unexposed infants.
- Severe maternal/chorion-amnion inflammatory response (MIR) correlated with higher body fat percentages.
- Gestational age partially mediated the association between chorioamnionitis and FM accretion (49%).
Conclusions:
- Severe histological chorioamnionitis is associated with increased fat mass accretion in very preterm infants at term-equivalent age.
- This effect appears independent of gestational age.
- Long-term implications of this early-onset difference in fat mass require further investigation.
