Aleš Roztočil
Premature labor and delivery remains the main perinatal problem. Over 85 % of perinatal mortality is in direct relationship with premature _delivery. One of the targets of perinatal medicine is the identification of risk factors and etiology of preterm labor. Its out of doubt that 1/3 of premature labores is initiated by intraamniotic infection products. The two remaining thirds are due to uteroplacental ischemia, cervical malformations, stress, obstetrical bleeding, uterine hyperdistention, oligohydramnios, fetal malpresentation, fetal inborn errors, uterine malformations and uterine allergy. Much remains to elucidate the etiology of preterm labor. Probably not unique cause will be responsible for the initiation of preterm uterine activity. More plausible is the concept of multifactorial etiology of preterm labor. The majority of them is for the moment unknown for us.