[Prospective study of the clinical value of C-reactive protein in amniotic infection syndrome]

In an open prospective investigation the median levels of C-reactive protein were determined in annormal collective. The median lies at 0.8 mg/dl in maternal serum withdrawn sub partu and in umbilical vein blood, and at 1.45 mg/dl immediately after ligation of the cord. Hopes on finding a biochemical parameter that could supply reliable information already during labour on a possible inflammatory infection in mother and child, did not materialize from the data found. Prediction of an infection of the newborn using CPR is only minimal. The most important practical information is given by the negative CRP in the umbilical vein blood. In this case the probability of an infection of the newborn is very slight. A high temperature during labour was the best predictor of the probability of endometritis puerperalis. This clinical finding, due to its specificity, is superior to CRP and the other parameters investigated.