Chorioamnionitis: Tripartite pathophysiology related to inciting events, maternal and fetal host responses

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This issue of The Journal includes reports of two studies on the pathogenesis of chorioamnionitis. Associated risk factors for chorioamnionitis found by Reiman et al were polymorphism of IL-6 promoter genotypes, and by Aly et al were excessive ethanol ingestion and anemia. Seemingly disparate at first glance, Goldman brings them together in his editorial. He also provides a sparkling tutorial on the intertwined molecular processes of inciting event and host response framework complicated further by two hosts (the mother and the fetus) and two unique interfaces (the chorion and the amnion).