[The significance of C-reactive protein in the diagnosis of chorioamnionitis in cases of premature rupture of the membranes].

We have retrospectively studied the changes in the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) and of white blood cells in 82 patients who had premature rupture of the membranes between the 20th and the 36th week of pregnancy in order to estimate the possibility of prenatal screening for amnion infections in early rupture of the membranes. The level of CRP was shown to be quickly and significantly raised in cases of clinical or histological chorioamnionitis, whereas the change in maternal leucocytes alters little and later. The level of CRP can be worked out as an early biological marker which is sensitive and cheap in the clinical supervision of cases with early rupture of the membranes.