On the relationship between pregnancy weight gain and chorioamnionitis.

Chorioamnionitis refers to infection of the amniotic fluid by such agents as Streptococcus sp., E. coli and Ureaplasma sp. It has not only been linked to the risk of premature rupture of the membranes and preterm delivery, but also to increased morbidity and mortality among neonates born to mothers with such infections. The possible association between maternal gestational weight gain and chorioamnionitis was examined in data using a case sample of 62 and control sample of 168 Israeli women. Univariate analysis demonstrated a significant increase in the incidence of chorioamnionitis among mothers delivering before 33 weeks gestation who displayed inadequate gestational weight gain according to the IOM standards. Comparison of logistic regression analyses between mothers who developed chorioamnionitis at different stages of their pregnancies, controlling for the effects of maternal anthropometric, sociodemographic, and obstetric factors, showed that inadequate weight gain significantly increased the risk of chorioamnionitis among those delivering very prematurely. The differences in significant risk factors suggest the possibility that pre- and full-term chorioamnionitis may not have the same etiologies. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 9:545-553, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.