Increased apoptosis of human fetal membranes in rupture of the membranes and chorioamnionitis.

Apoptosis is thought to participate pathophysiologically in the rupture of human fetal membranes (ROM). The aim of this study was to assess apoptosis of the amnion and the chorion in relation to ROM and chorioamnionitis (CAM). The amnion and chorion at the position of the cervical os and fundus of the uterus were obtained from 44 patients. Apoptotic DNA fragmentation was densitometrically determined, and the relative ratio was used for the quantitative evaluation. Among patients without CAM, the relative ratios of apoptosis in the amnion from patients with ROM were higher than those in patients without ROM (P< 0.05). Among patients without ROM, the apoptotic levels in the amnion from patients with CAM were higher than those in patients without CAM (P< 0.05). These were the cases with the amnion at the position of cervical os and fundus, but not with the chorion. The highest ratio of apoptosis was seen in the amnion from patients with CAM and ROM. Among patients with ROM and no CAM, the apoptotic levels at the cervical os in the amnion (P=0.059) and chorion (P< 0.05) was higher than those at the fundus. The increased apoptosis of human fetal membranes was related to ROM and CAM. Apoptosis plays a role in the pathophysiology of ROM. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.