The frequency and clinical significance of intra-amniotic infection and/or inflammation in women with placenta previa and vaginal bleeding: an unexpected observation

OBJECTIVE Idiopathic vaginal bleeding, a common complication of pregnancy, increases the risk of small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonate, preeclampsia and preterm delivery and can be the only clinical manifestation of intra-amniotic infection and/or inflammation (IAI). Placenta previa is thought to be protective against ascending intrauterine infection, yet an excess of histologic chorioamnionitis has been reported in this condition. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and clinical significance of IAI in women with placenta previa and vaginal bleeding in the absence of preterm labor. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective cohort study including 35 women with placenta previa and vaginal bleeding