Successful pregnancy outcome after preterm premature rupture of membranes at < 20 weeks - A report of three cases

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous preterm premature rupture of the membranes occurrin g before 20 weeks' gestation carries a perinatal mortality of approximately 82% and potential for considerable morbidity for mother and fetus. This is in contrast to amniotic fluid leakage after second-trimester amniocentesis , when the prognosis is usually good. CASES: We report three cases of spontaneous rupture of the membranes before 20 weeks' gestation, all associated with reaccumulation of amniotic fluid and satisfactory neonatal outcomes. CONCLUSION: Our cases may represent a subgroup with a relatively good progn osis. The existence of such subgroups would better be determined in a prosp ective, cohort study and if might need to be a multicenter one. It requires well-defined entry criteria, management protocols and neonatal follow-up a s well as information about pregnancies where termination, rather than cont inuation, is chosen.