The inflammatory response in candidal chorioamnionitis

Candida Chorioamnionitis in Mothers with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Report of Two Cases

Background:Candida chorioamnionitis is rarely encountered, even though vulvovaginal candidiasis incidence is about 15%. Interestingly, it has characteristic gross and histological findings on the umbilical cord that are not to be missed. Case Report: We report two cases of Candida chorioamnionitis with presence of multiple yellowish and red spots of the surface of the umbilical cord. Microscopically, these consist of microabscesses with evidence of fungal yeasts and pseudohyphae. The yeasts and pseudohyphae were highlighted by periodic acid– Schiff and Grocott methenamine silver histochemical stains. Both cases were associated with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus. Discussion: Peripheral funisitis is a characteristic feature of Candida chorioamnionitis. It is associated with high risk of adverse perinatal and neonatal outcomes, such as preterm delivery, stillbirth and neonatal death. We recommend careful examination of the umbilical cord of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Four major patterns of placental injury: a stepwise guide for understanding and implementing the 2016 Amsterdam consensus

The Amsterdam classification system defines four major patterns of placental injury, maternal vascular malperfusion, fetal vascular malperfusion, acute chorioamnionitis, and villitis of unknown etiology, and lists the histologic findings that characterize each. However, there continues to be uncertainty regarding specific definitions, histologic mimics, grading and staging, and what combination of findings is required to diagnose each pattern of injury in a reproducible fashion. The purpose of this review is to clarify some of these issues by suggesting a stepwise approach to more fully realize the potential of this new classification system. In our view, the critical steps for correctly identifying and communicating each pattern of injury are (1) familiarity with the underlying pathophysiology and known clinical associations, (2) incorporation of important gross findings, (3) learning to recognize underlying architectural alterations and defining features at low power, (4) using higher magnification to narrow the differential diagnosis and assess severity (grading) and duration (staging), and (5) adopting a template for generating standardized placental reports that succinctly provide useful information for patient care and research applications.

Inflammatory response in acute chorioamnionitis

Acute chorioamnionitis is the principal antecedent of premature birth and an important contributor to specific neonatal and other complications that may extend throughout subsequent life. A large number of studies have addressed surrogate markers of in-utero inflammation including cytokines, chemokines, pathogen-associated molecular patterns, and elicited host proteins. However, chorioamnionitis means inflammation occurring within the chorioamnion and the only practical direct measure available to assess this finding in most placentas is histopathology. The maternal and fetal inflammatory response to the presence of organisms within the placental membranes, so-called histologic chorioamnionitis, is the focus of this review. The issues addressed are the nature and origin of the eliciting antigen, mode of spread to the placenta, general characteristics of placental immunity, and a specific characterization of the spectrum of pathologic lesions observed in placentas with membrane infection.

[Systemic congenital candidiasis, a rare condition in neonates: case report in a premature infant]

Congenital cutaneous candidiasis presenting at birth is very uncommon and is due to intra-uterine infection. The systemic form has to be considered when cutaneous signs are associated with sepsis symptoms.

CASE REPORT

A female infant was born by vaginal delivery at 35 weeks' gestation to a mother whose pregnancy had been complicated by urinary tract infection treated 3 days before delivery. The infant was admitted because of respiratory distress. Clinical features consisted of respiratory retraction signs associated with hepatomegaly and rash on the trunk. The white blood cell (WBC) count was 50 × 10(9)/L and C-reactive protein was negative. Maternofetal bacterial infection was suspected and intravenous antibiotics were prescribed. Over the next 6h, macules appeared on the trunk, back, and limbs, which changed after 24h into papulovesicular lesions over the trunk, back, limbs, palms, and scalp. Congenital candidiasis was suspected, confirmed by cultures from vesicle swabs and maternal vaginal discharge. The systemic form was considered because of respiratory distress requiring oxygen therapy for 4 days, hepatomegaly, elevated WBC count, and chest X-ray infiltrates. The infant was started on intravenous systemic antifungal therapy (fluconazole, 6 mg/day). Treatment was continued for 3 weeks. The rash resolved by desquamation after about 1 week and hepatomegaly disappeared. The infant remained well at follow-up.

Placental intravascular organisms: a case report

Ascending amniotic fluid bacterial infection is a cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. A diagnosis of amniotic cavity infection can be inferred by documenting maternal (acute chorioamnionitis) and/or fetal (chorionic plate vasculitis; umbilical vasculitis/funisitis) inflammatory response. A definitive diagnosis of intrauterine/neonatal sepsis as a cause of stillbirth requires positive blood cultures obtained at postmortem examination. However, if postmortem examination is not performed, acute chorioamnionitis with/without fetal inflammatory response cannot be classified as a cause of demise. We present a case of intrauterine demise associated with acute chorioamnionitis, villitis, and intervillositis of the placenta. Although postmortem examination was denied, a conclusive diagnosis of intrauterine sepsis could be rendered by demonstration of gram-positive cocci within fetal vessels of umbilical cord, chorionic plate, and stem villi. This report highlights the importance of identification of placental intravascular organisms as unequivocal evidence of fetal sepsis, especially in cases where cultures cannot be obtained.

Congenital candidiasis presenting as septic shock without rash

Congenital candidiasis is rare and often benign. This report describes the case of twins born at 32 weeks of gestation with different manifestations of congenital candidiasis. One twin was born well though neutropenic, and died from overwhelming sepsis with septic shock at 22 h. The other twin presented with a delayed onset of rash at 2 days, remained well and survived.

Congenital candidiasis presenting as septic shock without rash

Congenital candidiasis is rare and often benign. We report the case of twins born at 32 weeks' gestation with different manifestations of congenital candidiasis. One twin was born well though neutropenic, and died from overwhelming sepsis with septic shock at 22 h. The other twin presented with a delayed onset of rash at 2 days, remained well and survived.

Infections and other inflammatory conditions

The etiology of cerebral palsy and other related perinatal brain injuries is poorly understood. Infections of the central nervous system are rare but important causes of neurodisability. Recent evidence suggests that infections and other inflammatory conditions apparently limited to the placenta are also associated with an increased risk of neurologic impairment. A major hypothesis to explain this connection is that cytokines, activated inflammatory cells, and other mediators of the innate immune response are released into the fetal circulation where they can directly or indirectly affect the development or integrity of the central nervous system. This review surveys the organisms, mediators, and placental lesions that have been associated with perinatal brain injury.

Inflammatory responses in the placenta and umbilical cord

Histopathological examination of the placenta is the gold standard for evaluating antenatal inflammatory processes that might influence fetal development. Histological chorioamnionitis develops through a well-characterised stereotyped progression of maternal and fetal cellular stages that vary from patient to patient and are amenable to quantification. Increases in the intensity of these responses and their gradual transformation into a chronic phase are important variables that can adversely affect fetal physiology. Under recognised placental inflammatory lesions affecting the decidua, placental villi and fetal vessels are also potentially informative factors that should be taken into account in the studies of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This review summarises the relationships between aetiology, intensity, duration, characteristics and site of histological placental inflammation and suggests how these data may help to better understand the antenatal environment.

Placental inflammation

Placental inflammatory disorders represent a diverse and important category of pathological processes leading to fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. These processes can be divided into two broad subcategories, those caused by micro-organisms and those caused by host immune responses to non-replicating antigens. The mechanisms by which these inflammatory processes cause death and disability are diverse and can be separated into four distinct classes: placental damage with loss of function, induction of premature labour and subsequent preterm birth, release of inflammatory mediators leading to fetal organ damage and transplacental infection of the fetus. Each specific inflammatory process can be modulated by properties of the specific organism, the route and timing of infection and variations in the host's genetic background and immune responsiveness. All of these factors combine to produce specific patterns of placental pathology that can be used to guide treatment, predict complications and explain adverse outcome.

Amniotic infection syndrome: nosology and reproducibility of placental reaction patterns

Clinically responsive placental examination seeks to provide useful information regarding the etiology, prognosis, and recurrence risk of pregnancy disorders. The purpose of this study was to assemble and validate a complete set of the placental reaction patterns seen with amniotic fluid infection in the hope that this might provide a standardized diagnostic framework useful for practicing pathologists. Study cases (14 with amniotic fluid infection, 6 controls) were reviewed blindly by six pathologists after agreement on a standard set of diagnostic criteria. After analysis of initial results, criteria were refined and a second, overlapping set of cases were reviewed. Majority vote served as the gold standard. Grading and staging of maternal and fetal inflammatory responses was found to be more reproducible using a two- versus three-tiered grading system than a three- versus five-tiered staging system (overall agreement 81% vs. 71%). Sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency for individual observations ranged from 67-100% (24/30 > 90%). Reproducibility was measured by unweighted kappa values and interpreted as follows: < 0.2, poor; 0.2-0.6, fair/moderate; > 0.6, substantial. Kappa values for the 12 lesions evaluated in 20 cases by the six pathologists were: acute chorioamnionitis/maternal inflammatory response (any, 0.93; severe 0.76; advanced stage, 0.49); chronic (subacute) chorioamnionitis (0.25); acute chorioamnionitis/fetal inflammatory response (any, 0.90; severe, 0.55; advanced stage, 0.52); chorionic vessel thrombi (0.37); peripheral funisitis (0.84); acute villitis (0.90); acute intervillositis/intervillous abscesses (0.65), and decidual plasma cells (0.30). Adoption of this clearly defined, clinically relevant, and pathologically reproducible terminology could enhance clinicopathologic correlation and provide a framework for future clinical research.

Congenital cutaneous candidiasis: clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and management guidelines

We describe a term infant with congenital cutaneous candidiasis (CCC), and review all cases in the English literature that reported birth weight and outcome. Presence of an intrauterine foreign body was a predisposing factor for development of CCC and subsequent preterm birth. The most common presentation of CCC in neonates weighing >1000 g was a generalized eruption of erythematous macules, papules, and/or pustules that sometimes evolved to include vesicles and bullae. Extremely low birth weight, premature neonates weighing <1000 g most often presented with a widespread desquamating and/or erosive dermatitis (10 of 15 [67%]), and were at greater risk for systemic infection with Candida spp (10 of 15 [67%]) and death (6 of 15 [40%] than those weighing >1000 g (5 of 48 [10%]; 4 of 48 [8%], respectively). Systemic antifungal therapy is recommended for neonates with burn-like dermatitis attributable to Candida spp, or positive blood, urine, and/or cerebrospinal fluid cultures. Systemic treatment also should be considered for all infants with CCC who have respiratory distress in the immediate neonatal period and/or laboratory signs of sepsis such as an elevated leukocyte count with an increase in immature forms or persistent hyperglycemia and glycosuria.

Intra amniotic candidiasis. Case report and meta-analysis of 54 cases

We present a case of mid pregnancy loss with retained intrauterine contraceptive device associated with fetal Candida infection. Review of English literature identified 53 additional cases of fetal candidal infection, with 17 associated with an IUCD in situ. The presence of an IUCD was associated with delivery at a statistically significant earlier gestational age when compared to cases not associated with an IUCD (23.3 +/- 4.9 vs 31.6 +/- 7.0, p < 0.001). Seventy-seven percent of fetal candidal infections associated with an IUCD were systemic (heart, brain, liver, gastrointestinal, lung) compared to 33% of cases not associated with an IUCD. In contrast to bacterial intraamniotic infections there was a low incidence of maternal febrile morbidity. An hypothesis as to the pathogenesis of Candidal infections in the presence and absence of an IUCD is offered as well as a paradigm for the management of the gravid patient with an IUCD in situ.

Placental candidiasis: report of four cases, one with villitis

Four cases of placental candidiasis, an uncommon complication of rupture of the membranes, are presented. In addition to chorioamnionitis, in one of these cases villitis was also observed. Villitis is a rare occurrence in Candida infection and this represents only the second case in the literature. The involvement of villi may be suggestive of blood-borne infection. However, since neither the mother nor the foetus presented any signs of systemic dissemination, the authors suggest a hypothesis of contamination of the villi from foci of chorioamnionitis.

Candida funisitis: A clinicopathologic study of 32 cases

We report on 32 cases of Candida funisitis and describe the associated clinicopathologic features. The Candida funisitis was characterized grossly by small, circumscribed, yellow-white nodules on the umbilical cord surface and, microscopically, by subamnionic microabscesses in which fungal organisms were demonstrable. Chorioamnionitis was present in all cases. Twenty-four (75%) of the 32 infants were premature. There were 7 perinatal deaths, all in immature fetuses. Five (16%) of the 32 fetuses had congenital candidiasis. Five (16%) of the mothers had a history of intrauterine foreign body, including intrauterine contraceptive device in three and cervical cerclage in two. The diagnosis of Candida funisitis should prompt a careful examination for fetal infection, even though it is associated with congenital candidiasis in only a minority of the cases.

Giant cell and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia associated with fetal pneumonia

In a review of 96 consecutive perinatal autopsies (42 nonautolyzed stillborn and 54 liveborn infants 12 h or less of age) with histologic sections of placental tissues and an undistended lung, we were impressed by the frequent occurrence of lymphocytic infiltrates in the interstitium of the lung. To study this phenomenon further we analyzed the cases for 56 clinicopathologic variables. Lymphocytic interstitial infiltrates were present in 22 of the cases, 5 stillborn and 17 liveborn. The severity of the infiltrates was highly significantly correlated with the severity of chorioamnionitis, funisitis, and fetal pneumonia (P < .001). A positive association was found with livebirth and a negative association with hyaline membrane disease (both P < .05). No significant association was found with gestational age, body size, or other complications of pregnancy, labor, delivery, or the immediate perinatal period. Twenty-seven cases had fetal pneumonia without lymphocytic interstitial infiltrates. Two cases had interstitial lymphocytic infiltrates in the absence of fetal pneumonia, but both had chorioamnionitis. Two other cases had numerous giant cells, shown to be of macrophage origin by immunoperoxidase stains, in the airways in addition to severe fetal pneumonia and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia. The observations show that lymphocytic interstitial infiltrates and giant cells may be a feature of fetal pneumonia.