Glucose level in amniotic fluid as a preclinical marker of chorioamnionitis

The article presents the results of a study amniotic glucose concentration as a potential early indicator of the inflammatory process in the fetal membranes. The main focus was on the analysis of the features of pregnancy and labor in women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) during full-term and preterm labor according to amniotic fluid glucose levels. Currently, the expectant approach in cases of PROM is widely practiced throughout the world. The objective: to estimate the glucose level in the amniotic fluid as a preclinical marker of chorioamnionitis. Materials and methods. Depending on the glucose concentration in the amniotic fluid at the time of rupture of membranes and the term of rupture of membranes, 97 pregnant women were divided into 4 groups. I and II groups consisted of women with PROM between 24 and 36 weeks and 6 days. In the I group there were 34 pregnant women with a glucose concentration in the amniotic fluid of more than 0.5 mmol/l, and in the II group – 15 pregnant women with the indicator of less than 0.5 mmol/l. III and IV groups included pregnant women with PROM at full-term pregnancy (after 37 weeks). In the III group there were 34 patients with an amniotic glucose concentration of more than 0.5 mmol/l, and in the IV – 14 pregnant women with the indicator of less than 0.5 mmol/l. In all groups, the further course of pregnancy, the time period from the rupture of membranes to the beginning of labor, the need for induction of labor, hyperthermia before the beginning of labor, deviations from the normal course of labor were analyzed (hyperthermia, fetal distress in labor, uterine weakness) and the frequency of operative delivery. Results. The study determined that women with an amniotic glucose concentration below 0.5 mmol/l at the time of hospitalization were more likely to have hyperthermia before and during childbirth. Hyperthermia was most often observed during the first 12 hours after membrane rupture. In addition, these women were more prone to serious birth complications, such as fetal distress, weak labor, and a greater likelihood of needing an operative delivery. Conclusions. 1. A decreased amniotic glucose level less than 0.5 mmol/l is associated with more frequent clinical manifestations of amniotic infection (20% in preterm pregnancies and 14.8% – in full-term pregnancies) than in groups with a glucose content of more than 0.5 mmol/l (8.8% in preterm pregnancies and 5.9% – in full-term pregnancies, p≤0.05). 2. Among patients with a glucose content in amniotic fluid less than 0.5 mmol/l, laboratory manifestations of intra-amniotic infection were detected more often (40% in preterm pregnancies and 42.5% in full-term pregnancies) than among pregnant women with a glucose content of more than 0.5 mmol/l (20% in both full-term and preterm pregnancies, p≤0.05). 3. Determination of the glucose level in amniotic fluid can be considered as an available method of preclinical diagnosis of chorioamnionitis for the individual choice of management tactics in case of premature rupture of the amniotic membranes, which is especially important in premature pregnancy.