OBJECTIVES: To determine the pulsatility index (PI) in the fetal splenic vein, the main portal vein, the left portal vein, and the ductus venosus with respect to the presence or absence of intra-amniotic inflammation (IAI) in preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM). METHOD: Women with singleton pregnancies and PPROM, ranging in gestational age from 22+0 to 36+6 weeks, were included. Amniotic fluid samples were obtained by transabdominal amniocentesis and the amniotic fluid level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was assessed by a point-of-care test. Doppler examination of the selected veins was performed, and the PI was assessed. IAI was defined as amniotic fluid levels of IL-6 ≥745 pg/mL. RESULTS: In total, 42 women were included. Fetuses with IAI compared with those without IAI exhibited a higher PI in the splenic vein (p = 0.005) and the main portal vein (p = 0.05). No differences were observed in the left portal vein PI (p = 0.36) and the ductus venosus PI (p = 0.98). CONCLUSION: IAI was associated with increased fetal splenic vein PI and main portal vein PI in PPROM. The absence of changes in the left portal vein PI and ductus venosus PI supports the local cause of the finding.

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics University Hospital Ostrava Ostrava Czechia

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Charles University Prague Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove University Hospital in Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czechia

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Charles University Prague Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove University Hospital in Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czechia Biomedical Research Center University Hospital Hradec Kralove Hradec Kralove Czechia

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Sahlgrenska Academy Gothenburg University Gothenburg Sweden Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics Area of Health Data and Digitalisation Norwegian Institute of Public Health Oslo Norway

References provided by Crossref.org