Neurodevelopmental outcome of very-low-birth-weight infants with chorioamnionitis.

Background: Chorioamnionitis (CAM) is one of the main causes of preterm labor and has been associated with an adverse perinatal outcome in preterm infants.

Objective: The specific aim of our study was to evaluate whether there is significant difference in the Bayley developmental index scores at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of corrected age for very-low-birthweight (birth body weight <1500 gm, VLBW) infants with or without placental CAM.

Methods: Ninety-five cases (54 in CAM and 41 in non-CAM groups) available for the study were all VLBW infants with adequate histologic placental material for analysis. Neonatal characteristics and morbidities were recorded. The infants were followed up prospectively with Bayley Scales of Infant Development in the Neonatal Follow-up Clinic for 2 years.

Results: We found that 56.8% of placentas presented a picture of CAM. In comparison of the neonatal characteristics, VLBW infants with CAM had shorter gestational age (27.9 +/- 2.8 vs. 30.0 +/- 3.7 weeks, p = 0.003), lower Cesarean delivery rate (48.1% vs. 73.2%, p = 0.011), more maternal steroid use (44.4% vs. 12.2%, p = 0.004) and higher incidence of preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM, 37.0% vs. 12.2%, p = 0.009). In comparison of neonatal outcomes, the CAM group had higher incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD, 40.7% vs. 19.5%, p = 0.044), more mechanical ventilation (87.0% vs. 27/41, p = 0.023) and intubation (68.5% vs. 46.3%, p = 0.049), and more median days of ventilation (23.1 +/- 29.1 vs. 7.8. +/- 13.7 days, p = 0.001). As for the follow-up, at any test age, either the mean (Mental Development Index (MDI) / (Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) scores of Bayley test or the incidence of score below 85, there was no significant difference in both groups.

Conclusions: The VLBW infants with histologic chorioamnionitis were not associated with an increased risk of lower MDI or PDI scores at the corrected ages of 6, 12, 18 and 24 months compared with the non-CAM control group.