Chorioamnionitis: An Update on Diagnostic Evaluation

Overview

Journal Biomedicines

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2023 Nov 25

PMID 38001923

Authors

Sean W D Carter

Samantha Neubronner

Lin Lin Su

Pradip Dashraath

Citra Mattar

Sebastian E Illanes

Mahesh A Choolani

Matthew W Kemp

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Chorioamnionitis remains a major cause of preterm birth and maternal and neonatal morbidity. We reviewed the current evidence for the diagnostic tests of chorioamnionitis and how this relates to clinical practice today. A comprehensive literature search and review was conducted on chorioamnionitis and intra-uterine inflammation. Data from randomized control trials and systematic reviews were prioritized. This review highlights that sterile inflammation plays an important role in chorioamnionitis and that the current tests for chorioamnionitis including clinical criteria, maternal plasma and vaginal biomarkers lack diagnostic accuracy. Concerningly, these tests often rely on detecting an inflammatory response after damage has occurred to the fetus. Care should be taken when interpreting current investigations for the diagnosis of chorioamnionitis and how they guide obstetric/neonatal management. There is an urgent need for further validation of current diagnostic tests and the development of novel, accurate, minimally invasive tests that detect subclinical intra-uterine inflammation.

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