Influence of perinatal inflammation on the neurodevelopmental outcome of premature infants

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the influence of perinatal inflammation on neurodevelopmental outcome of premature infants.

Study design

From a retrospective cohort study of women with preterm labor with intact membranes or preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) with an amniocentesis to rule out intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) and microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC), we evaluated neurodevelopmental outcome of their infants born between 24.0 and 34.0 weeks gestation. Women with clinical chorioamnionitis at admission were excluded. Neurodevelopmental outcome was screened with the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)-3. We analyzed the relationship between an altered ASQ-3 and antenatal, intra-partum and post-partum factors related to perinatal inflammation.

Result

Among 98 infants evaluated, 22% had an abnormal score. Amniotic fluid interleukin-6 levels and early-onset sepsis (EOS) were independent factors of an altered ASQ-3 with delivery <26.0 weeks being the strongest predictor.

Conclusions

In premature infants, the presence of IAI, delivery <26.0 weeks and EOS were found to be independent factors of an altered ASQ-3.

Keywords:

• Infants
• outcomes
• women

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the Antenatal Clinic at the Maternal and Fetal Medicine Department of Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain and Francesc Figueras for his unconditional support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for publication was supported by Spanish grants from the Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación (I + D+i) 2013–2016 (PI10/01308, PI15/00344), funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)- Subdirección General de Evaluación and by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo regional (FEDER).