Development of a method to predict intrauterine infection and diagnose indications for amniocentesis

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K18179
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Fukuoka University
• Principal Investigator: Kurakazu Masamitsu 福岡大学, 医学部, 講師 (30712468)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 絨毛膜羊膜炎 / 子宮内感染 / マイクロRNA

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The diagnosis of intrauterine infection had been shown to be improved by amniocentesis, an evaluation of amniotic fluid that improves its diagnostic accuracy. On the other hand, amniocentesis was associated with risks such as uterine puncture-related bleeding, infection, water breaking, and fetal damage. The results of this study showed that miR-4353 and miR-1915-5p in amniotic fluid could be inflammatory biomarkers for the predictive diagnosis of chorioamnionitis, and the correlation between miR-4353 and miR-1915-5p in maternal blood and amniotic fluid suggested that intrauterine infection could be evaluated by assessing maternal blood This suggested the possibility that intrauterine infection can be evaluated by assessment of maternal blood.

Free Research Field

子宮内感染

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、母体血液検査において炎症バイオマーカーを選択することで、子宮内環境を評価できることを示しました。羊水穿刺を回避し、子宮内感染（組織学的絨毛膜炎）を出生前診断に低侵襲に予測診断できること社会的意義は高いと考えられました。また、羊水中の炎症性バイオマーカーを選択することにより胎児感染の有無を評価できる可能性が示唆された研究成果は、出生後の新生児治療において抗菌薬治療開始の科学的根拠を提供することの社会的意義は高いと考えられました。