PARTURITIONAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MEMBRANE STRIPPING

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine what factors occurring after d igital separation of the chorionic membranes from the lower uterine se gment (membrane stripping) are involved in observed clinical changes c ompared with patients not so treated. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty patients we re randomly divided among a study population and two control groups to assess uterine contractions and microbiologic, histologic, and bioche mical markers associated with parturitional events over a 7-hour time frame. RESULTS: Clinically, an increased frequency of uterine contract ile activity was observed among patients in the membrane-stripped grou p (p < 0.03). There was a significant increase in plasma 13,14-dihydro -1 5-keto-prostaglandin F2alpha (p < 0.001) and endocervical phospholi pase A2 activity (p < 0.04) among those who underwent membrane strippi ng. Blood leukocyte counts, sedimentation rates, prostaglandin E2 meta bolite concentrations, and fibronectin levels revealed no significant change during the 7-hour study session. CONCLUSION: Membrane stripping was associated with increases in phospholipase A2 activity and prosta glandin F2alpha concentrations, indicating a possible correlation with initiation of the cascade of parturitional events.