RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN C-REACTIVE PROTEIN-LEVELS AND INTRAAMNIOTIC INFECTION IN WOMEN WITH PRETERM LABOR

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between C- reactive protein (CRP) levels and intra-amniotic infection in 48 women presenting with preterm labor and intact membranes. Blood samples for CRP tests were obtained immediately before the performance of transab dominal amniocentesis. The prevalence of amniotic fluid cultures posit ive for organisms was 14.6%. In 16 women (33.3%) positive CRP levels w ere obtained. There were no significant differences in the prematurity rate or the prevalence of microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity b etween women with positive CRP levels and women with negative levels. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive val ues for the detection of amniotic infection were 71.5%, 73.2%, 31.3% a nd 93.8%, respectively. Based on these results, we suggest that in wom en with preterm labor and negative CRP levels, routine amniocentesis m ay not be essential to the initial workup.