VITAMIN-C STATUS, CERVICOVAGINAL INFECTION AND PREMATURE RUPTURE OF AMNIOTIC MEMBRANES

A prospective study to evaluate the role of vitamin C and cervico-vagi nal infection in the premature rupture of amniotic membranes (FROM) wa s designed, The leukocyte vitamin C levels of 44 pregnant women that d id not consume vitamin supplements was evaluated at weeks 20, 28 and 3 2 of pregnancy. On each evaluation the presence of cervico-vaginal inf ection was diagnosed and treated. The leukocyte vitamin C level throug hout gestation showed a decrease towards week 28 and then it recovered at the end of pregnancy, Six of every ten women had normal flora in t heir vaginal secretion cultures, Eleven cases had FROM (0.24), no asso ciation was found between cervico-vaginal infection and PROM, The leuk ocyte vitamin C levels on week 20 of gestation showed an association w ith PROM. (x(2)=6.34, p<0.05, odds ratio 6.75 [CI 1.26-26.03]).