Outcomes of pregnancies with preterm premature rupture of membranes occurring before 24 weeks of gestation: An 11-year observational study

ObjectiveThis study describes the fetal and neonatal outcomes and their predictive factors in pregnancies with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) before 24 weeks of gestation. MethodsA retrospective study was conducted using the patient database of a tertiary university hospital in Lyon, France. All of the medical data of women diagnosed with PPROM before 24 weeks of gestation from 2008 to 2018 were extracted. R software was used for descriptive and analytical statistics. ResultsThe study included 78 women. Mean gestational age (GA) at PPROM was 19.6 weeks (13.1 to 23.9 weeks). Fifteen (19.2%) pregnancies were terminated, 37 (47.4%) resulted in intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), and 26 (33.3%) children were born alive at an average of 26.9 weeks of gestation. Fourteen children survived and 12 died after birth; 50% of survivors had pulmonary hypoplasia. Within 7 days after PPROM, 46% of IUFD occurred and 36% of pregnancies ended. PPROM before 20 weeks of gestation and chorioamnionitis are statistically associated with IUFD, whereas a latency period of more than 2 weeks is statistically related to live birth. ConclusionPPROM before 24 weeks of gestation is associated with a high rate of IUFD, preterm birth, and postpartum mortality.

Automated summary

This study investigates the outcomes of pregnancies with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) before 24 weeks of gestation and identifies predictive factors. The results show a high rate of intrauterine fetal death, preterm birth, and postpartum mortality in these cases. The latency period of more than 2 weeks is associated with live birth.