QUANTIFICATION OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN-A IN CHORIOAMNIOTIC MEMBRANE OF PATIENTS WITH PREMATURE RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES

Objective: The proposal was to study the presence of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the chorioamniotic membrane of healthy postpartum women with premature rupture of the chorioamniotic membrane (FROM). Method: A sin gle radial immunodiffusion technique was used to quantify the IgA in t he chorioamniotic membrane tissues. Results: The level of IgA was appr oximately 10 times higher in patients whose membranes had been rupture d for > 10 h (24.58 mg/dl). These results were compared with those of a previously published study where the mean of amount of IgA was 2.52 mg/dl in membranes of patients with rupture < 10 h. Our results show t hat IgA began to rise after 10-15 h following rupture. Conclusion: Alt hough more studies need to be performed our data indicate that the inc reasing IgA in our patients after 10 h of latency probably represents the beginning of an ascending colonization of bacteria which could be the source of future infection.