ISSN:
1471-0528
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Fifty babies were born at ≤ 37 weeks to mothers with diabetes. Delivery was undertaken in all patients with the reassurance that the L/S ratio was ≥2.0 within the preceding 72 h. Five babies (10%) developed respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Prediction of fetal lung maturity was improved dramatically by measuring amniotic fluid concentrations of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidyl-glycerol (PG). Fourteen babies were predicted as having ‘no surfactant’ (PC 〈 20 mg/1, PI 〈 2 mg/1 and PG 〈 2 mg/1), five developed RDS. None of the remaining 36 babies developed the illness: they were predicted as having either ‘early surfactant’ (PC ≥ 20 mg/1, PI ≥ 2 mg/1 but PG 〈 2 mg/1) or ‘late surfactant’ (PC ≥ 20 mg/1, PI ≥ 2 mg/1 and PG ≥ 2 mg/1). Measurement of PC levels alone was the most accurate method of predicting RDS. There was a significant association between low surfactant phospholipid concentrations and the development of transient tachypnoea of the newborn.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1984.tb05917.x
