Chorioamnionitis ‘ups risk of neurological disorders’ in offspring
The maternal infection is largely driven by preterm delivery, researchers say
A link between in-utero exposure to chorioamnionitis and neurodevelopmental disorders has been confirmed by a population-based study involving more than two million children.
The findings underline the importance of early detection and treatment of intra-amniotic infections during pregnancy, Swedish researchers say.
For the study, they looked at outcomes from some 2.2 million singleton live births and stillbirths to determine whether there was an association between chorioamnionitis and neurological disorders.
They found children exposed to chorioamnionitis in utero were seven times more likely to be diagnosed with cerebral palsy than those not exposed to the infection, after adjusting for potential confounders.
