[The value of leukocytes, C-reactive protein and granulocyte elastase in patients with premature rupture of fetal membranes and amniotic infection].

Serum concentrations of leucocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP) and elastase-alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor (E alpha 1 PI) have been determined in 85 women during pregnancy and after birth to assess their diagnostic value in case of amniotic infections (AI). In ten patients clinically diagnosed AI could be confirmed by histopathological examination, three patients who fulfilled the clinical criteria showed no histological signs of infection. E alpha 1 PI-levels were found to be elevated to over 200 meg/l in six patients with clinical and histological infection and remained below this value in all other cases whereas leucocyte- and CRP concentrations raised in five out of these eight women but also showed false positive values in patients without AI. The application of betamethasone led to a marked elevation of leucocyte concentration. CRP levels were raised substantially after birth, whereas E alpha 1 PI remained unchanged. It is suggested that all three parameters should be taken into consideration to increase diagnostic reliability in case of suspected amniotic infections.