The fetal inflammation response syndrome and adverse neonatal outcomes: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

The clinical performance of fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) is often atypical. The aim of this meta-analysis is to investigate whether FIRS is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were used in this study. The adverse neonatal outcomes data including neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and neonatal death were collected to make analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 10 articles (1116 patients) were included in this study. Compared to the non-FIRS group, the FIRS group was associated with higher incidence of adverse neonatal outcomes, such as EOS (RR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.26, 7.65; =.014), BPD (RR = 5.93, 95% CI = 4.35, 8,08;  < .001), IVH (RR = 4.89, 95% CI = 2.96, 8.08;  < .001), PVL (RR = 3.32, 95% CI: 1.73, 6.40;  < .001), RDS (2.35, 95% CI = 1.67, 3.31;  < .001), and the neonatal death (RR = 7.04, 95% CI: 3.34, 14.85;  < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The FIRS is associated with higher incidence of adverse neonatal outcomes, and is a risk factor of severe neonatal morbidity or death.