Journal List > Perinatology > v.29(1) > 1094977

Kang, Park, and Kim: The Effect of Acute Histologic Chorioamnionitis on Hematologic Profile of Preterm Fetuses

Abstract

Objective

To characterize the hematologic profile of preterm fetuses delivered spontaneously with acute histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA).

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study. The relationship between the presence of acute HCA and the change of hematologic profile was examined in 109 singleton pregnant women who were admitted and delivered between 24-32 weeks of gestation. Cases without results of placental histologic examination, cord blood cell count, and the differential count were excluded. From the cord blood, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, total leucocyte count and the differential count, platelet count, normoblast count, and umbilical arterial pH were obtained. All the observed values were corrected for gestational age by calculating a ratio between the observed and mean expected value for gestational age.

Results

1) The prevalence of acute HCA was 60.6% (66/109); 2) newborns with acute HCA had a higher median corrected leucocyte counts and corrected percentage of neutrophil in the differential count and a lower median corrected percentage of lymphocyte in the differential count than those without acute HCA; 3) neutrophilia was significantly frequent in newborns with acute HCA than in those without acute HCA; and 4) acute HCA was not associated with detectable changes in percentage of monocyte, eosinophil, basophil, and normoblast in the differential count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, erythrocyte counts, mean corpuscular volume, platelet counts, or umbilical arterial pH.

Conclusion

The hematologic profile of preterm fetuses delivered spontaneously with acute HCA is characterized by significant changes in the total leucocyte count, neutrophil percentage, and lymphocyte percentage.

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Fig. 1.
Comparison of the fetal blood absolute and corrected leucocyte counts. (A) Fetuses with acute histologic chorioamnionitis had higher median absolute leucocyte counts than those without acute histologic chorioamnionitis (absolute leucocyte count median 10.5 [range, 1.1-35.4] vs. 6.6 [range, 2.4-15.9] ×109/L, P<0.001). (B) Corrected leucocyte counts by gestational age was also higher in fetuses with acute histologic chorioamnionitis (corrected leucocyte count median 2.31 [range, 0.27-8.68] vs. 1.11 [range, 0.41-3.97], P<0.001). HCA, histologic chorioamnionitis.
pn-29-39f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Comparison of the fetal blood percentage of neutrophil in the differential count and corrected neutrophil counts. (A) Median percentage of neutrophil was higher in fetuses with acute histologic chorioamnionitis than in those without acute histologic chorioamnionitis (median percentage of neutrophil in the differential count 53.5% [range, 5.0-85.1] vs. 32.5% [range, 5.0-71.9], P<0.001). (B) Corrected median percentage of neutrophil counts was also higher in fetuses with acute histologic chorioamnionitis (corrected median percentage of neutrophil counts 5.51 [range, 0.43-11.2] vs. 2.20, [range 0.26-5.75], P<0.001). HCA, histologic chorioamnionitis.
pn-29-39f2.tif
Fig. 3.
Comparison of the fetal blood percentage of lymphocyte in the differential count. (A) Median percentage of lymphocyte was lower in fetuses with acute histologic chorioamnionitis than those without acute histologic chorioamnionitis (median percentage of lymphocyte in the differential count 32.4% [range, 8.3-86.0] vs. 53.0% [range, 18.1-85.0], P<0.001). (B) Corrected percentage of lymphocyte counts was also lower in fetuses with acute histologic chorioamnionitis (corrected median percentage of lymphocyte counts 0.41 [range, 0.12-1.26] vs. 0.69 [range, 0.26-1.24], P<0.001). HCA, histologic chorioamnionitis
pn-29-39f3.tif
Table 1.
Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of the Study Population according to the Presence or Absence of Acute Histologic Chorioamnionitis
  Acute histologic chorioamnionitis P-value
Absent (n=43) Present (n=66)
Maternal age (yrs) 30.2 (22.0-45.0) 31.5 (25.0-43.0) 0.314
Nulliparity 24/43 (55.8) 28/66 (42.4) 0.171
Etiology of preterm birth     0.167
Preterm labor 28/43 (65.1) 33/66 (50.0)  
PROM 15/43 (34.9) 33/66 (50.0)  
Cesarean delivery 26/43 (60.5) 28/66 (42.4) 0.066
Antenatal corticosteroids use 32/43 (74.4) 52/66 (78.8) 0.596
Antenatal antibiotics use 22/43 (51.2) 53/66 (80.3) 0.001
Tocolytics use 34/43 (79.1) 46/66 (69.7) 0.279
Clinical chorioamnionitis 1/43 (2.3) 4/66 (6.1) 0.646
Gestational age at delivery (wks) 29.7 (24.0-32.0) 28.2 (24.1-32.0) 0.001
Birthweight (g) 1,410.0 (710.0-2,610.0) 1,150.0 (530.0-2,020.0) 0.008
AF WBC count ≥20 cells/mm3 8/23 (34.8) 32/51 (62.7) 0.025
Positive AF culture 3/23 (13.0) 12/51 (23.5) 0.365

Values are presented as median (range) or number (%). Abbreviations: PROM, premature rupture of membranes; AF, amniotic fluid; WBC, white blood cell.

Transabdominal amniocentesis was performed only in 40 women from whom we received a written consent. In women without acute histologic chorioamnionitis, 61% (14/23) were diagnosed as having preterm labor. Fifty three percent (27/51) had preterm labor in women with acute histologic chorioamnionitis.

Table 2.
Hematologic Profile of the Fetuses according to the Presence or Absence of Acute Histologic Chorioamnionitis
  Acute histologic chorioamnionitis P-value
Absent (n=43) Present (n=66) P-value
Leucocyte (×109/L) 6.6 (2.4-15.9) 10.5 (1.1-35.4) <0.001
Corrected leucocyte 1.11 (0.41-3.97) 2.31 (0.27-8.68) <0.001
Neutrophilia 25/36 (69.4) 52/57 (91.2) 0.007
Neutropenia 1/36 (92.8) 0/57 (0.0) 0.387
Percentage of neutrophil (%) 32.5 (5.0-71.9) 53.5 (5.0-85.1) <0.001
Corrected percentage of neutrophil 2.20 (0.26-5.75) 5.51 (0.43-11.2) <0.001
Percentage of lymphocyte (%) 53.0 (18.1-85.0) 32.4 (8.3-86.0) <0.001
Corrected percentage of lymphocyte 0.69 (0.26-1.24) 0.41 (0.12-1.26) <0.001
Percentage of monocyte (%) 7.2 (2.0-19.0) 7.1 (0.0-24.0) 0.981
Corrected percentage of monocyte 2.38 (0.67-6.33) 2.37 (0.0-8.0) 0.981
Percentage of eosinophil (%) 2.6 (0.0-11.0) 1.6 (0.0-9.0) 0.057
Percentage of basophil (%) 0.1 (0.0-3.4) 0.17 (0.0-6.2) 0.976
Nucleated RBC (/100WBCs) 10.5 (0.0-237.0) 0.9 (0.0-175.0) 0.114
Corrected nucleated RBC 0.58 (0.0-12.2) 0.04 (0.0-8.33) 0.098
Erythrocyte (×1012/L) 3.60 (2.25-4.56) 3.42 (1.60-5.37) 0.059
Corrected erythrocyte 0.99 (0.65-1.31) 0.97 (0.48-1.41) 0.217
Hemoglobin (g/dL) 13.6 (2.4-18.1) 12.8 (6.0-20.6) 0.085
Corrected hemoglobin 1.04 (0.19-1.33) 0.98 (0.46-1.51) 0.176
Hematocrit (%) 41.5 (23.9-54.0) 39.8 (16.2-61.5) 0.229
Corrected hematocrit 1.00 (0.58-1.30) 0.95 (0.40-1.41) 0.401
MCV (×10-15/L) 111.9 (92.1-127.3) 114.9 (96.4-146.4) 0.173
Corrected MCV 0.96 (0.78-1.11) 0.97 (0.10-1.21) 0.507
Platelet (×109/L) 206.0 (16.0-380.0) 232.5 (7.0-491.0) 0.190
Corrected platelet 0.88 (0.06-1.57) 0.98 (0.03-2.03) 0.224
Umbilical arterial pH 7.29 (6.85-7.43)§ 7.30 (6.91-7.53)II 0.593
Corrected umbilical arterial pH 0.99 (0.93-1.00)§ 0.99 (0.92-1.00)II 0.480

Values are presented as median (range) or number (%). Abbreviations: RBC, red blood cell; WBC, white blood cell; MCV, mean corpuscular volume.

Percentage in the differential cell count.

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