MATERNAL AND NEONATAL OUTCOMES OF HISTOLOGICAL CHORIOAMNIONITIS.

BACKGROUND

Clinical Chorioamnionitis contributes to maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality but the effect of histological chorioamnionitis is sparse in our environment.

AIM

To determine the maternal and neonatal outcomes of histological chorioamnionitis amongst pregnant women and their babies.

DESIGN OF THE STUDY

Cross sectional longitudinal study.

SETTING

Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos, Nigeria.

METHODOLOGY

Parturients were interviewed and examined as well as had their placenta examined histologically for chorioamnionitis. They and their babies were followed up for 6 weeks after delivery to monitor for any complications that may arise.

RESULTS

A total of 148 parturients were enrolled from the labour ward of Jos University Teaching Hospital and of these 90 (60.8%) had histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA). As regards outcome, 9(10%) with histologic chorioamnionitis as well as 5(8.62%) of those without HCA had premature delivery. Low birth weight occurred in 12(13.33%) and 6(10.34 %) of those with HCA and without HCA respectively. In all, 1(1.47%) and 1(2.56%) of women with HCA and without HCA correspondingly had neonatal sepsis. Puerperal sepsis occurred in 2(2.94%) of those with HCA and 2(5.13%) of those without HCA.

CONCLUSION

Our study has demonstrated that histological chorioamnionitis had no adverse maternal or neonatal effect. There is the need for more studies investigating the cause and the implication of histological chorioamnionitis.