Fetal thymic involution: a sonographic marker of the fetal inflammatory response syndrome

Di Naro, Edoardo; Cromi, Antonella; Ghezzi, Fabio; Raio, Luigi; Uccella, Stefano; D'Addario, Vincenzo; Loverro, Giuseppe (2006). Fetal thymic involution: a sonographic marker of the fetal inflammatory response syndrome. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 194(1), pp. 153-9. Orlando, Fla.: Elsevier 10.1016/j.ajog.2005.05.036

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OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there is a relationship between the sonographic fetal thymus size and the presence of an intrauterine infection in patients with preterm labor. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-one women who had been admitted with preterm labor and intact membranes between 24 and 32 weeks of gestation were included. Fetal thymus perimeter was measured sonographically, and amniocentesis for the microbiologic assessment of the amniotic cavity was performed. Placentas and umbilical cords were examined for the presence of chorioamnionitis/funisitis. RESULTS: The prevalence of preterm delivery and intra-amniotic infection was 51.6% (16/31 women) and 32.3% (10/31 women), respectively. In all cases with intrauterine infection and in 23.8% of cases without intrauterine infection, the fetal thymus perimeter was below the 5th percentile for gestational age (10/10 women vs 5/21 women; P < .01). Isolated histologic chorioamnionitis and funisitis were found in 22.6% and 25.8% of fetuses, respectively. The fetal thymus was below the 5th percentile for gestational age in 100%, 71.4%, and 12.5% of patients with histologic signs of funisitis and isolated chorioamnionitis and without histologic signs of infection, respectively. CONCLUSION: Fetal thymus involution in preterm labor patients is strongly associated with funisitis, which is the histologic manifestation of the fetal inflammatory response syndrome.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Gynaecology
UniBE Contributor:	Raio, Luigi
ISSN:	0002-9378
ISBN:	16389025
Publisher:	Elsevier
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:52
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:16
Publisher DOI:	10.1016/j.ajog.2005.05.036
PubMed ID:	16389025
Web of Science ID:	000234386200023
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/21847 (FactScience: 16269)