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Accuracy of signs of clinical chorioamnionitis in the term parturient

Journal of Perinatology volume 33, pages 422–428 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective:

Uniform histopathologic guidelines were applied to diagnose chorioamnionitis and estimate the accuracy of clinical signs in term parturients.

Study Design:

A retrospective cohort study utilized slides from term parturient placentas with Amniotic Fluid Infection Nosology Committee guidelines as the gold standard. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for fever, maternal tachycardia and fetal tachycardia were calculated.

Result:

Of 641 placentas, 367 (57.3%) had histologic chorioamnionitis and 274 (42.7%) were negative. Fever had a sensitivity of 42%, specificity of 86.5% and accuracy of 61%. Fever, maternal tachycardia and fetal tachycardia had a sensitivity of 18.3%, specificity of 98.2% and accuracy of 52.4%.

Conclusion:

Histologic chorioamnionitis, frequently asymptomatic, is a common finding in placentas examined from term parturients. Clinical signs are not accurate in the diagnosis. Adoption of uniform pathologic guidelines will facilitate research into the clinical significance of these lesions in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA

    W M Curtin & H Florescue

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pathology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA

    W M Curtin

  3. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA

    P J Katzman & L A Metlay

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  1. W M Curtin
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  2. P J Katzman
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Correspondence to W M Curtin.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Perinatology website

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Curtin, W., Katzman, P., Florescue, H. et al. Accuracy of signs of clinical chorioamnionitis in the term parturient. J Perinatol 33, 422–428 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.135

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