Is the fibrinolytic activity involved in the mechanism of fetal membrane rupture? A clinical study of term and prematurely ruptured membranes

The fibrinolytic activity (FA) was determined in fetal membrane specimens obtained in 15 cases of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) and from 15 control women who gave birth spontaneously at term. In each case two membrane specimens were obtained, one from the rupture margin and the other from the membranes close to the placental margin. No significant difference in FA was demonstrated between the two groups of patients. Nor could any significant difference be found on comparing the FA within the paired membrane specimens of each group. Furthermore, no obvious change in FA was demonstrated in relation to clinical signs of chorioamnionitis or microbiological findings. However, although the FAs observed in prematurely ruptured membranes were comparable to those found in term specimens, this does not exclude the possibility of an involvement of FA in the mechanism of membrane rupture.