Study design
Before dexamethasone was injected, blood was drawn for peripheral WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, CRP and PCT. Then the same tests were repeated at 24, 48 and 72 hours after the injection of the first dose of dexamethasone. Delivery was performed (induction or cesarean as appropriate) after 34 0/7 weeks of gestation or after the development of early signs of intraamniotic infection. All patients underwent placenta pathologic examination after birth. HCA is diagnosed in the presence of acute inflammatory changes in any of the tissue samples (amnion, chorion-decidua, umbilical cord, and chorionic plate), using previously published criteria[19], which manifests as neutrophils in the chorion or in the chorion and amnion on the examination of a membrane roll and chorionic plate of the placenta. Two independent pathologists reviewed the histology slides of the placentas for the pregnant women participating in the study. Women confirmed HCA with the pathological diagnosis of placenta were included into the HCA group while others into the non-HCA (CON) group. CCA is diagnosed clinically in accordance with the following signs: fever (≥38°C orally), vaginal discharge odor, maternal tachycardia (>100 beats per minute), and fetal tachycardia (>160 beats per minute), abdominal pain, uterine tenderness, and leukocytosis. The presence of at least three of these signs has been shown to indicate a strong probability of chorioamnionitis[20].