Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in midtrimester amniotic fluid: association with amniotic fluid cytokine levels and pregnancy outcome.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The association between the detection of Mycoplasma hominis or Ureaplasma urealyticum in midtrimester amniotic fluid and amniotic fluid cytokine concentrations and subsequent pregnancy outcome were examined.

STUDY DESIGN:

Amniocentesis was performed between 15 and 19 weeks of gestation in 179 asymptomatic women. Aliquots were assayed for M hominis and U urealyticum by polymerase chain reaction coupled to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Intra-amniotic levels of interleukin-1beta, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, interleukin-4, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pregnancy outcomes were obtained after the completion of all testing.

RESULTS:

U urealyticum was detected in 22 of 172 amniotic fluids (12.8%); M hominis was present in 11 of 179 amniotic fluids (6.1%). There was no relationship between U urealyticum detection and the concentration of any cytokine. Detection of M hominis was associated with elevated intra-amniotic concentrations of interleukin-4 ( P = .01). Preterm premature rupture of membranes that was followed by preterm birth occurred in 5 women (2.8%); 5 women (2.8%) had a spontaneous preterm birth with intact membranes. All 5 of the women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (100%) tested positive for either U urealyticum or M hominis , as opposed to none of the women with spontaneous preterm birth and to 27 of 161 women (16.8%) with a term birth ( P = .0002).

CONCLUSION:

The detection of M hominis or U urealyticum in midtrimester amniotic fluid by polymerase chain reaction-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay may be a risk factor for subsequent preterm premature rupture of membranes.

• Authors: Sriram C Perni, Santosh Vardhana, Irina Korneeva, Sara L Tuttle, Lilly-Rose Paraskevas, Stephen T Chasen, Robin B Kalish, Steven S Witkin
• Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Am J Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 191 Issue 4 Pg. 1382-6 (Oct 2004) ISSN: 0002-9378 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15507969 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cytokines

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Amniotic Fluid (chemistry, microbiology)
• Cytokines (analysis)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture (epidemiology, microbiology)
• Humans
• Mycoplasma hominis (isolation & purification)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Outcome (epidemiology)
• Pregnancy Trimester, Second
• Risk Factors
• Ureaplasma urealyticum (isolation & purification)