Infectious and inflammatory mechanisms in preterm birth and cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE In a thesis examine infectious and inflammatory mechanisms involved in preterm birth and cerebral palsy. STUDY DESIGN Four cross-sectional studies and a case control study. RESULTS Microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and inflammation in this population of Swedish women in preterm labor and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes was similar to that reported in data from populations with a higher incidence of preterm birth. Our data support an association between antenatal infection/inflammation and cerebral palsy. CONCLUSIONS Infectious and inflammatory mechanisms are involved in preterm birth and cerebral palsy in a population with low incidence of preterm birth.