Table 1 Characteristics of the study population according to amniotic fluid culture results
| Â | Amniotic fluid culture | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
Positive (n = 16) | Negative (n = 157) | ||
Maternal age (years) | 31.3 ± 4.9 | 31.6 ± 4.0 | 0.638 |
Nulliparity | 56% (9) | 62% (97) | 0.666 |
Gestational age at sampling (weeks) | 28.3 ± 3.0 | 30.2 ± 2.6 | 0.014 |
Gestational age at delivery (weeks) | 30.0 ± 3.1 | 35.9 ± 3.5 | < 0.001 |
Serum C-reactive protein (mg/L) | 25.3 ± 21.5 | 7.5 ± 11.6 | < 0.001 |
Cervical length on ultrasonography (mm) | 19.2 ± 8.9 | 25.3 ± 12.1 | 0.054 |
Plasma C3a (μg/mL) | 13.8 ± 6.8 | 12.8 ± 7.9 | 0.366 |
Plasma C5a (ng/mL) | 46.0 ± 10.3 | 44.8 ± 13.0 | 0.712 |
Plasma interleukin-6 (pg/mL) | 9.9 ± 9.3 | 4.6 ± 6.1 | 0.001 |
Plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 (ng/ml) | 248.7 ± 232.0 | 210.6 ± 185.0 | 0.405 |
Use of tocolytic agents | 94% (15) | 94% (147) | 0.985 |
Use of antibiotics | 75% (12) | 26% (40) | < 0.001 |
Use of antenatal corticosteroids | 100% (17) | 75% (120) | 0.026 |
Clinical chorioamnionitis | 6% (1) | 0% (0) | 0.002 |
Histological chorioamnionitisa | 75% (12/16) | 32% (27/85) | 0.001 |
Amniotic fluid interleukin-6 (ng/mL) | 26.3 ± 21.4 | 1.9 ± 7.7 | < 0.001 |