The fetal splenic vein flow pattern and fetal inflammatory response in the preterm prelabor rupture of membranes.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the intensity of the fetal inflammatory response, characterized by umbilical cord blood IL-6 levels, and neonatal outcome in the preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) pregnancies using the pulsatile fetal splenic vein flow pattern.

METHODS

Women with singleton pregnancies complicated by PPROM at a gestational age between 24 + 0 and 36 + 6 weeks were included in the study. Doppler evaluation of the fetal splenic vein flow was performed. The flow-velocity waveform pattern was evaluated qualitatively as continuous or pulsatile. The umbilical cord blood interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were evaluated after delivery. The fetal inflammatory response was defined as IL-6 >11 pg/mL.

RESULTS

In total, 129 women were included. The fetuses with pulsatile splenic vein flow exhibited higher IL-6 levels in umbilical cord blood (median: 56.7 pg/mL versus 5.6 pg/mL; p < 0.0001) and had a higher rate of fetal inflammatory response syndrome (71% versus 35%; p = 0.0005) than fetuses with continuous flow. The pulsatile flow pattern was related to a higher rate of early onset neonatal sepsis (odds ratio 4.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.3-13.5).

CONCLUSION

The presence of pulsatile fetal splenic vein flow in PPROM pregnancies is associated with fetal inflammatory response and neonatal morbidity.