Histopathology of phlebitis and funisitis, annotated

Funisitis is

inflammation Inflammation (from la, inflammatio) is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants, and is a protective response involving immune cells, blood vessels, and molec ...

of the connective tissue of the

umbilical cord In placental mammals, the umbilical cord (also called the navel string, birth cord or ''funiculus umbilicalis'') is a conduit between the developing embryo or fetus and the placenta. During prenatal development, the umbilical cord is physiologi ...

that occurs with chorioamnionitis. It involves only the external cord surface and

Wharton's jelly Wharton's jelly (''substantia gelatinea funiculi umbilicalis'') is a gelatinous substance within the umbilical cord, largely made up of mucopolysaccharides (hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate). It acts as a mucous connective tissue containing ...

. It has no involvement of the vessels. It does not involve the umbilical stump, which would be seen in omphalitis.

Necrotizing funisitis

Necrotizing Necrosis () is a form of cell injury which results in the premature death of cells in living tissue by autolysis. Necrosis is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue, such as infection, or trauma which result in the unregulated dige ...

funisitis is a very severe form of funisitis that occurs when the funisitis has been present for a long time. Debris from inflammatory cells accumulate and the cord becomes calcified. Treatment with IV antibiotics is necessary for necrotizing funisitis, with a minimum of 7 days. This can occur in healthy born infants; the infection occurs in the days and weeks following birth. With IV antibiotic treatment and early management, outcomes are good.

Syphilis association

It could be associated with congenital syphilis, which is noted in a journal from 1999. It is now rare, and seen almost exclusively in the

preterm infant Preterm birth, also known as premature birth, is the birth of a baby at fewer than 37 weeks gestational age, as opposed to full-term delivery at approximately 40 weeks. Extreme preterm is less than 28 weeks, very early preterm birth is between ...

. The majority of these affected infants are

stillborn Stillbirth is typically defined as fetal death at or after 20 or 28 weeks of pregnancy, depending on the source. It results in a baby born without signs of life. A stillbirth can result in the feeling of guilt or grief in the mother. The ter ...

, or die within a few weeks of birth.

References

{{reflist Neonatology Pathology of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium

Necrotizing funisitis

Syphilis association

See also

References