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PubMedDate not supplied

Amniotic fluid lactoferrin in intrauterine infection.

Lactoferrin (LF) has been found in most biological fluids including amniotic fluid and cervical mucus in pregnant women and is released from neutrophils in response to inflammation. It is an important component of the host defence against microbial infections due to its antimicrobial properties. Premature labour is caused by amniotic infection and high concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in amniotic fluid with infection are well established. In the present study, LF levels of intrauterine infection in amniotic fluid were measured and the biological significance of LF was investigated. The effects of LF on IL-6 production in cultured amnion cells were also investigated. The concentrations of LF and IL-6 in amniotic fluid with chorioamnionitis (CAM) were 8.76+/-0.65 microg/ml and 6.92+/-4.88 ng/ml (n = 28), respectively, and both were significantly higher (P<0.01) than those without CAM (0.86+/-0.81 microg/ml and 0.34+/-0.25 ng/ml; n = 31). LF and IL-6 levels were significantly higher (P<0.01) with CAM. A significant positive correlation between LF and IL-6 levels in amniotic fluid was found (r = 0.91, P<0.01). To our knowledge, this was the first study of its kind, which shows that IL-6 production induced by lipopolysaccharide in cultured cells was significantly inhibited below physiological concentration of LF in the amnion. In addition, the immunohistochemical localization of LF in fetal membranes was investigated. In the fetal membranes with CAM, strong positive staining was observed in amniotic and chorionic membranes, with leucocyte migration, while weak staining was observed in membranes without CAM. These results show conclusively that LF suppresses amniotic IL-6 production under the conditions of intrauterine infection.

Amnion↗
PubMed1989

Renin substrate in human amniotic fluid.

Purified human amniotic fluid renin substrate (RS) was compared to purified plasma RS. RS in plasma and amniotic fluid were similar in molecular weight, isoelectric point and immunological properties. Immunoreactivity of radio-iodinated amniotic fluid RS was lower than that of plasma RS. Measured by direct radioimmunoassay, RS-levels were only 10-22% of those obtained with indirect assay in 22 amniotic fluid samples. This difference suggests that amniotic fluid RS is less immunoreactive than plasma RS, possibly due to biochemical alteration or complex formation. No such difference in immunoreactivity was noticed in RS of decidual and placental cytosolic fraction.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Alterations in the proteins found in the amniotic fluid in the course of normal pregnancy. A study carried out by immunoprecipitation tests on the amniotic fluid (author's transl)].

A fluonephelometric technique was used to study the proteins in amniotic fluid. 113 samples taken between the 8th and the 44th week of amenorrhoea from pregnancies without any fetal abnormality were tested. The levels of 8 protein fractions were estimated: albumen, IgG, IgA, alpha 1 antitrypsin, transferrin, orosomucoid, alpha 2 macro-globulin and IgM. 6 of these fractions could be estimated in almost every sample of amniotic fluid, but alpha 2 macroglobulines and IgM could only be found in a few cases. Furthermore, the fractions of the proteins most clearly shown appeared in a parallel way more or less as the total levels of proteins as estimated by Lowry's method.

Albumins↗
PubMed1987

Differing concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin and prolactin in the cyst fluid of hydatidiform mole and in amniotic fluid.

The concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin and prolactin in the cyst fluid of molar tissue were compared with that of normal amniotic fluid. Molar fluid was aspirated from the vesicles of molar tissue in eight women (duration of amenorrhea 14.1 +/- 1 week, mean +/- SEM). Amniotic fluid was obtained at amniocentesis in 24 women (mean duration of amenorrhea 15.9 +/- 0.2 week). Hormones were measured by specific radioimmunoassay. The concentrations (mean +/- SEM) of human chorionic gonadotropin in molar fluid and amniotic fluid were 581,829 +/- 112,581 and 3187 +/- 505 mlU/ml (p less than 0.001), respectively. For prolactin the levels in molar fluid and amniotic fluid were 44 +/- 24 and 1962 +/- 313 ng/ml (p less than 0.001), respectively. These data demonstrate that molar fluid contains 182-fold higher levels of human chorionic gonadotropin and 45-fold lower levels of prolactin than amniotic fluid obtained from normal pregnant women with a similar duration of amenorrhea. In addition to altered endocrine function of the trophoblast, there may be altered prolactin secretion from the decidua in molar pregnancy as compared with normal pregnancy. Further research is required to evaluate prolactin production from decidua of molar pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Comparison of pharyngeal aspirate and amniotic fluid surfactant composition.

Amniotic fluid and oropharyngeal aspirate lung maturity profiles obtained simultaneously at delivery in 16 patients are compared. The lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio was greater in oropharyngeal aspirates than in amniotic fluid (p less than 0.02). The percent phosphatidylinositol was greater in oropharyngeal aspirates than in amniotic fluid (p less than 0.03). The mean differences between percent phosphatidylglycerol were not significant. These findings were uninfluenced by the time interval between amniotic fluid and oropharyngeal sampling, gestational age, or neonatal weight. These data could explain the lack of sensitivity of the amniotic fluid lung maturity profile.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1987

Arachidonate lipoxygenase metabolites in amniotic fluid of women with intra-amniotic infection and preterm labor.

This study was undertaken to examine the effects of intrauterine infection and preterm labor on the amniotic fluid concentrations of arachidonate lipoxygenase metabolites in women with premature rupture of membranes. Amniotic fluid was obtained from four groups of women with premature rupture of membranes: group 1, women without labor or infection; group 2, women with labor but without infection; group 3, women with intra-amniotic infection but without labor; and group 4, women with both infection and labor. 12-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, and leukotriene B4 were measured by radioimmunoassays. Amniotic fluid concentrations of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid were found not to differ significantly among the four groups. Amniotic fluid concentrations of 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in group 4 were significantly higher than in women in groups 1 and 3 (p less than 0.05). In addition, amniotic fluid concentrations in leukotriene B4 were significantly higher in group 4 than in any of the other three groups (p less than 0.05). Leukotriene B4 concentrations were higher in groups 2 and 3 than in group 1, suggesting that the presence of both labor and infection increases the concentration of this metabolite in amniotic fluid. Infection and labor had an additive effect in the elevation of amniotic fluid concentrations of leukotriene B4. These results suggest that the amniotic fluid concentrations of arachidonate lipoxygenase metabolites are affected differently by the presence of infection and labor in women with premature rupture of membranes.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗
PubMed1982

Inorganic phosphorus and zinc concentrations in amniotic fluid: correlation with intra-amniotic infection and bacterial inhibitory activity.

Concentrations of zinc and inorganic phosphorus were determined in amniotic fluid from 41 patients with intra-amniotic infection and from 40 uninfected, control patients. Also determined was amniotic fluid inhibitory activity to an Escherichia coli test organism. Compared to amniotic fluid from control patients, that from patients with intra-amniotic infection had significantly higher mean concentrations of phosphorus. In specimens free of meconium, the mean concentrations of phosphorus were still significantly higher. Assays for inhibitory activity were performed with 62 samples of fluid (25 noninhibitory, 37 inhibitory). Although noninhibitory fluid had higher mean concentrations of phosphorus and zinc, these differences did not hold after meconium-stained samples were excluded. No correlation was found between phosphorus-to-zinc ratio and either intra-amniotic infection or inhibitory activity. However, there are important differences in population and techniques between this and related studies.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1999

Nitric oxide: a clinically important amniotic fluid marker to distinguish between intra-amniotic mycoplasma and non-mycoplasma infections.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the measurements of amniotic fluid nitric oxide metabolite (NOx: nitrate + nitrite) concentrations could be a clinically useful marker to differentiate between intra-amniotic mycoplasma and nonmycoplasma infections. Amniocentesis was performed on 76 pregnant women with suspicion of intra-amniotic infection. Intra-amniotic infection was defined as the presence of a positive amniotic fluid culture with either mycoplasma or nonmycoplasma infections. Rapid amniotic fluid tests for Gram stain, glucose, leukocyte counts, interleukin-6, and NOx were performed. Amniotic fluid NOx was measured with aspergillus nitrate reductase and Griess reagent. Interleukin-6 was determined by enzyme immunoassays. Amniotic fluid NOx and interleukin-6 were normalized by amniotic fluid creatinine levels. Patients with intra-amniotic mycoplasma (n = 7) and nonmycoplasma infections (n = 8) had significantly higher amniotic fluid leukocyte counts and interleukin-6 concentrations and significantly lower amniotic fluid glucose levels than noninfected controls (n = 61). Amniotic fluid concentrations of NOx were significantly higher in those with intraamniotic nonmycoplasma infection as compared to those with intraamniotic mycoplasma infection and noninfected controls (NOx: 3.35+/-0.74 vs. 2.03+/-0.41 micromol/mg creatinine, p = 0.005, and 3.35+/-0.74 vs. 1.72+/-0.07 micromol/mg creatinine, p < 0.0001, respectively). However, patients with intra-amniotic mycoplasma infection did not differ significantly from noninfected controls. Our data indicate that clinical characteristics of intra-amniotic mycoplasma infection may differ from intra-amniotic nonmycoplasma infection. As delivery is not always indicated in intra-amniotic mycoplasma infection, elevated rapid amniotic fluid tests (leukocyte counts, interleukin-6, and glucose) may not be appropriate in the clinical management of intra-amniotic mycoplasma infection. In addition to these rapid amniotic fluid tests, incorporation of the measurement of amniotic fluid NOx may be of clinical importance in the differentiation and management of patients with suspected intra-amniotic mycoplasma and nonmycoplasma infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Meconium passed in labor: how reassuring is clear amniotic fluid?

OBJECTIVE: Clear amniotic fluid is frequently considered a reassuring sign during labor. Our aim was to examine the incidence of meconium that can only have been passed intrapartum and to determine its neonatal associations and whether its absence is a useful sign. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 8394 "low risk" laboring women at term with clear amniotic fluid at early amniotomy. RESULTS: Meconium was passed in 5.2% of labors but was not detected until delivery of the fetal head in 51.5% of these. It was associated with moderate-severe acidosis (odds ratio [OR] 4.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.21, 6.03), low Apgar score at 5 minutes (OR 6.49; 95% CI 2.73, 15.44), and neonatal seizures (OR 4.33; 95% CI 3.17, 5.93). However, the sensitivity for these outcomes of the intrapartum passage of meconium and, particularly, its detection before delivery was very poor. CONCLUSION: Although correlated with adverse neonatal outcomes, most affected infants had clear amniotic fluid throughout labor. The presence of clear amniotic fluid is an unreliable sign of fetal well-being.

Adult↗