ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the neonatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) and to assess the prognostic factors for poor neonatal outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of pregnancies registered and managed in Korea from Jan 1st, 2000 to Dec 31st, 2005. The 217 women with preterm premature rupture of membranes in singleton pregnancies from 16 to 36 gestational weeks were enrolled in this study. We investigated respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and neonatal infection for poor neonatal outcomes. Prognostic variables included for analysis were age, BMI, parity, history of PPROM, history of preterm labor, preterm labor, amniotic fluid index, tocolysis, antibiotics, antenatal steroid, hemoglobin, WBC, CRP, gestational age at PPROM, interval from PPROM to delivery, gestational age at delivery, placental findings, and etc. We compared the characteristics of those who developed neonatal morbidity (n=144) with those who did not (n=65) using the Student t test for continuous variables, and the Pearson's chi-square or the Fisher exact test for categorical variables. RESULTS: Total of 217 cases of PPROM were registered and treated expectantly during the study period. The majority of cases were delivered within 48 hours of PPROM. There were 64 cases diagnosed with RDS, 21 with IVH, 3 with NEC, 117 with neonatal infection and 8 neonatal mortalities. The gestational age at PPROM (p<0.000), interval from PPROM to delivery (p<0.036), gestational age at delivery (p<0.000), decreased amniotic fluid index (p<0.048), and high level of WBC, CRP (p<0.010, p<0.049) were significantly correlated with poor neonatal outcomes. Birth weight (p<0.000) and APGAR (p<0.000) score at 5 minute were significantly lower in cases resulting in neonatal morbidity. CONCLUSION: Neonatal outcomes of pregnancies with preterm premature rupture of membranes are related to gestational age at PPROM, interval from PPROM to delivery, and gestational age at delivery. The decreased amniotic fluid index, and high level of WBC, CRP presented before delivery are significantly correlated with poor neonatal outcomes. Birth weight and APGAR scores at 5 minute are significantly lower in cases resulting in neonatal morbidity.