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Pathology of the Placenta pp 103–107Cite as

Acute Chorioamnionitis

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Abstract

Acute chorioamnionitis comprises acute inflammation of the chorionic plate of the placenta, the amniochorial membrane and umbilical cord. Most cases are the result of acute bacterial infection of the amniotic fluid/amniotic cavity, with the potential to spread to the fetus, to initiate preterm labour or to cause maternal sepsis.

In the chorionic plate, maternal and fetal components to the inflammatory response can be recognised by histological examination. Both elements can show a range of extent and severity, which should be recorded in the histology report, either descriptively or as a grade and stage.

The fetal inflammatory component has implications for a number of serious neonatal and long-term morbidities, particularly in premature infants.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK

    Phillip Cox

  2. Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS FT, Sheffield, UK

    Marta C. Cohen

  3. Queen Mary University College Medical School, London, UK

    Irene B. Scheimberg

  4. Department of Cellular Pathology, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK

    Irene B. Scheimberg

Authors
  1. Phillip Cox
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  2. Marta C. Cohen
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  3. Irene B. Scheimberg
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Phillip Cox .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomical Pathology, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, North Adelaide, SA, Australia

    T. Yee Khong

  2. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Eoghan E. Mooney

  3. Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Peter G. J. Nikkels

  4. Department of Pathology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Terry K. Morgan

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    Sanne J. Gordijn

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Cox, P., Cohen, M.C., Scheimberg, I.B. (2019). Acute Chorioamnionitis. In: Khong, T., Mooney, E., Nikkels, P., Morgan, T., Gordijn, S. (eds) Pathology of the Placenta. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97214-5_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97214-5_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-97213-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-97214-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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