Legend:
Fig. 1. Flowchart and study design
Fig. 2: The response of different infectious indicators to dexamethasone in PPROM women
A and B: WBC and neutrophil increased 24 hours after the first injection in both groups, followed by a decrease at 72 hours post first injection to levels that remained higher than the baseline. No significance was found between two groups. C: Mean lymphocyte declined at 24 hours whereas peaked ultimately at 72 hours. There was no significance between the two groups. D and E: In the HCA groups, CRP temporarily increased at 24 hours before dropping to the baseline and remaining at stable level; PCT increased continually to the peak at 72 hours. Both CRP and PCT were significantly higher in HCA group after first injection.
Fig. 3: The ROC curves of CRP and PCT for HCA after administration of dexamethasone
A: For women at baseline, the area under ROC curve of PCT was significantly better than that of CRP (0.763 vs. 0.588; p<0.05). B: The areas under ROC curve of CRP and PCT were 0.788 and 0.730, respectively. No significance was found between them. C: The area under ROC curve of PCT was significantly better than that of CRP at 48 hours (0.901 vs. 0.701; p<0.05). D: The area under ROC curve of PCT was significantly better than that of CRP at 48 hours (0.902 vs. 0.714; p<0.05).
Table. 1: Characteristics of PPROM women in CON and HCA group
Table. 2: Laboratory tests at baseline and after administration of dexamethasone
Table. 3: The predictive analysis for CRP and PCT for HCA after administration of dexamethasone