The effect of chorioamnionitis on the developmental outcome of preterm infants at one year.

This report investigates the effect of chorioamnionitis on infant mental and psychomotor development at one year through the prospective study of 698 preterm pregnancies complicated by premature rupture of membranes and managed expectantly without antenatal corticosteroids or tocolytic agents. Ninety-two mothers (13%) developed chorioamnionitis, resulting in a statistically significant increase in neonatal mortality (25 versus 6%), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (62 versus 35%), intraventricular hemorrhage (56 versus 22%), and sepsis (28 versus 11%). A multidisciplinary team examined 43 surviving infants at corrected one year of life and measured their mental and psychomotor development by the Bayley scales. No statistically significant difference in outcomes was observed when their development was compared with that of a control group matched for birth weight, gestational age, severity of intraventricular hemorrhage, and severity of RDS.