R Romero, J Espinoza, L F Gonçalves, R Gomez, L Medina, M Silva, T Chaiworapongsa, B H Yoon, F Ghezzi, W Lee, M Treadwell, S M Berry, E Maymon, M Mazor, G DeVore
BACKGROUND: Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is associated with one-third of preterm births. In about 50% of preterm PROM cases, the fetuses will elicit a fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS). FIRS is associated with the impending onset of preterm labor, periventricular leukomalacia, neonatal sepsis, and long-term handicap, including the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and cerebral palsy. The fetal myocardium is a potential target organ of proinflammatory cytokines released during FIRS...
September 2004: Journal of Maternal-fetal & Neonatal Medicine