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The Possible Role of Intrauterine Infections in Unexplained Second Trimester Abortions and Macerated Stillbirths: A Study from a Single Center

Journal of Perinatology volume 24, pages 679–685 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of intrauterine infections in unexplained second trimester abortions and stillbirths.

STUDY DESIGN: Histopathologic and microbiologic evidence of intrauterine infection in the placentas, fetal membranes and fetal lung tissues of 18 unexplained second trimester abortions and macerated stillbirth cases as well as the placentas and fetal membranes of 10 healthy term neonates were investigated in a prospective study conducted in Ankara University School of Medicine, Turkey.

RESULTS: Histopathologic chorioamnionitis and placental culture positivity rates in the study and control groups were 64.7 vs 0%. Bacteria were recovered from 90.9% of placentas and 36.4% of fetal lungs of the cases with histopathologic chorioamnionitis. Intrauterine infection was found in 66.7% of the whole study group, in 85.7% of the unexplained second trimester abortions, and in 54.5% of the macerated stillbirths.

CONCLUSION: Intrauterine infection may be an important factor in unexplained stillbirths and second trimester abortions in centers where pregnancy follow-ups lack evaluation for asymptomatic infection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Gulsum Akdag Atay MD, Saadet Arsan MD, Begum Atasay MD & Derya Aysev MD

  2. Department of Pathology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Arzu Ensari MD

Authors
  1. Gulsum Akdag Atay MD
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  2. Saadet Arsan MD
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  3. Begum Atasay MD
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  4. Arzu Ensari MD
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  5. Derya Aysev MD
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Supported by Ankara University Research Fund (Grant no: 98-09-00-27), Ankara, Turkey.

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Atay, G., Arsan, S., Atasay, B. et al. The Possible Role of Intrauterine Infections in Unexplained Second Trimester Abortions and Macerated Stillbirths: A Study from a Single Center. J Perinatol 24, 679–685 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211167

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