THE USE OF THE AMNIOTIC FLUID LECITH1N/SPHINGOMYELIN (L/S) RATIO, CREATININE CONCENTRATION AND NILE BLUE SULPHATE TESTS, INDIVIDUALLY AND IN COMBINATION, IN THE ASSESSMENT OF FETAL LUNG MATURITY

  1. R. M. Rome Registrar1,
  2. S. C. Simmons Consultant1,
  3. Margaret Bearne Technician2,
  4. D. Watson Consultant Biochemist2

Article first published online: 23 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1976.tb00862.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 83, Issue 6, pages 441–446, June 1976

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How to Cite

Rome, R. M., Simmons, S. C., Bearne, M. and Watson, D. (1976), THE USE OF THE AMNIOTIC FLUID LECITH1N/SPHINGOMYELIN (L/S) RATIO, CREATININE CONCENTRATION AND NILE BLUE SULPHATE TESTS, INDIVIDUALLY AND IN COMBINATION, IN THE ASSESSMENT OF FETAL LUNG MATURITY. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 83: 441–446. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1976.tb00862.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Windsor and Slough Obstetric Unit, Upton Hospital, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 2BJ

  2. 2

    Area Laboratory, King Edward VII Hospital, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 3A W

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 AUG 2005
  2. Article first published online: 23 AUG 2005

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Summary

The lecithin-sphingomyelin (LS) ratio is a good, but not absolute, test of fetal lung maturity. A total of 373 infants was delivered within 72 hours of amniotic fluid collection for assessment of the L/S ratio. Five of 43 infants (11–6 per cent) with an L/S ratio of 2.2 or less developed the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), whereas only one of 320 infants (0.31 per cent) with a higher L/S ratio developed RDS. The risk of RDS could be further defined by using the creatinine concentration (critical value 19 mg/1) and the Nile blue sulphate test (critical value 4 per cent) in combination with the L/S ratio. All three tests were performed in 320 pregnancies and in each instance delivery took place within 72 hours. When all three test results were low, 3 of 5 infants (60 per cent) developed RDS, whereas when all three results were high, none of 175 infants developed RDS. When one or two results were low, 2 of 140 infants (1.4 per cent) developed RDS.

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