Association of prolonged, preterm premature rupture of the membranes and abruptio placentae.

Nine patients with prolonged, preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) had associated abruptio placentae confirmed at delivery. Antepartum vaginal bleeding during the course of expectant management was the most common feature in the clinical course of the patients who developed abruptio placentae. Other clinical and laboratory findings suggesting the diagnosis were not present consistently. Retrospective analysis of all patients with prolonged, preterm PROM led to an estimated risk of 4% for the development of abruptio placentae during the course of expectant management of such patients. This risk estimate is three to eight times greater than that for the development of abruptio placentae in pregnancy generally. A high index of suspicion for abruptio placentae is appropriate when patients with prolonged, preterm PROM develop vaginal bleeding or any other suggestive clinical signs or symptoms of abruptio placentae during the course of expectant management.