Second-trimester Pregnancy Loss at an Urban Hospital
Author Information
Author(s): Debra S. Heller, Charlene Moorehouse-Moore, Joan Skurnick, Rebecca N. Baergen
Primary Institution: UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School
Hypothesis
Is acute chorioamnionitis associated with second-trimester pregnancy loss in an inner-city population?
Conclusion
Acute chorioamnionitis is associated with second-trimester pregnancy loss at this inner-city hospital, and special stains can help identify causative organisms.
Supporting Evidence
- 56.7% of cases showed histologic acute chorioamnionitis.
- Two cases were culture positive for group B streptococcus.
- Three cases showed filamentous organisms consistent with Fusobacterium sp.
Takeaway
This study found that many women who lost their pregnancies in the second trimester had a condition called chorioamnionitis, which might be caused by infections.
Methodology
Retrospective review of medical records and pathologic material for cases of spontaneous abortions from January 1999 to March 2001.
Potential Biases
The study population was predominantly African-American, which may limit generalizability.
Limitations
The study was retrospective and did not perform a full work-up on each case without acute chorioamnionitis.
Participant Demographics
95.5% African-American, mean maternal age 26.6 years, mean gestational age 16 5/7 weeks.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 44.0-68.8%
Statistical Significance
p = 0.01
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