In view of the important protective role of the fetal membranes, wound sealing, tissue
regeneration, or wound healing could be life saving in cases of preterm premature
rupture of the membranes. Although many investigators are studying the causes of preterm
premature rupture of membranes, the emphasis has not been on the wound healing capacity
of the fetal membranes. In this review, the relevant literature on the pathophysiologic
condition that leads to preterm premature rupture of membranes will be summarized
to emphasize a continuum of events between rupture and repair. We will present the
current knowledge on fetal membrane wound healing and discuss the clinical implications
of these findings. We will critically discuss recent experimental interventions in
women to seal or heal the fetal membranes after preterm premature rupture of membranes.
Key words
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: May 09, 2006
Accepted:
January 20,
2006
Received in revised form:
January 20,
2006
Received:
October 17,
2005
Footnotes
Supported by the Biomed 2 Programme of the European Commission (EUROFOETUS, BMH4-CT-97-2383), co-financed by the Vlaamse Gemeenschap (COF 98/012) and Fonds voor Wetenschappellijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen (G.0153.00; R.D., J.A.D.) and by the National Institutes of Health grant No. HD 24314 (G.B-G) and grants to the University of Hawaii and Kapiolani Medical Center under the Research Centers in Minority Institutions Program of the National Center for Research Resources (No. RR-03061 and RR-11091; L.K.M., G.G-B.).
Identification
Copyright
© 2006 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
