The impact of intrauterine infection on fetal brain damage assessed by S100B protein concentrations in umbilical cord arteries.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of intrauterine infection on fetal brain damage by measuring S100B protein concentration in umbilical cord arteries. METHODS: In the intrauterine infection cases determined by pathology of 25 deliveries (Group I) and non-infection cases of 35 deliveries as control (Group C), we compared gestational age at delivery, birth weight, fetal heart rate monitoring during labor, Apgar score, umbilical cord artery pH and S100B protein concentrations in umbilical arteries measured by two-site immunoradiometric assay kit. RESULTS: (1) There was no significant correlation between pH and concentration of S100B protein. (2) Gestational age at delivery was found to be earlier in Group I, resulting in lower birth weights, when compared with Group C. (3) There was no significant difference between two groups concerning Apgar scores, pH. (4) S100B protein concentrations in Group I was significantly higher than those of Group C (3.9 7 ± 0.66 versus 1.8 9 ± 0.56 µg/L, p < 0.05). (5) The concentration of S100B protein in severe chorioamnionitis (CAM) cases were significantly higher than those of mild CAM and control cases. CONCLUSION: Higher concentration of S100B protein in Group I suggests that intrauterine infection itself has a serious risk factor on fetal brain damage.