Amniotic fluid infection syndrome and abruptio placentae.

The incidence of amniotic fluid infection syndrome, as assessed by the presence of an acute inflammatory infiltrate of the placenta, umbilical cord, and membranes at birth, was 23.3% in pregnancies complicated by severe abruptio placentae. This was not significantly higher than that noted in uncomplicated pregnancies. These data therefore fail to support the proposal that amniotic fluid infection predisposes to placental abruption.