Influence of Amniotic Fluid Volume on Lecithin Estimation in Prediction of Respiratory Distress

One hundred samples of amniotic fluid were obtained by amniocentesis from 82 patients at different stages of normal and abnormal pregnancies. The concentration of lecithin was estimated together with the volume of the amniotic fluid, using the dilution technique. Thus the total quantity of lecithin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ 1973-06, Vol.2 (5868), p.689-691
Main Authors: Falconer, G. F., Hodge, J. S., Gadd, R. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amniocentesis
Amniotic fluid
Amniotic Fluid - analysis
Biochemistry
Cesarean section
Estimation methods
Female
Gynecology
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Medical specialists
Obstetric Labor Complications
Obstetrics
Papers and Originals
Phosphatidylcholines
Phosphatidylcholines - analysis
Pregnancy
Prognosis
Respiratory distress
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn - diagnosis
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Summary:One hundred samples of amniotic fluid were obtained by amniocentesis from 82 patients at different stages of normal and abnormal pregnancies. The concentration of lecithin was estimated together with the volume of the amniotic fluid, using the dilution technique. Thus the total quantity of lecithin in any amniotic sac could be calculated. While confirming the findings of others that concentrations of lecithin below 3·5 mg/100 ml in the liquor immediately before delivery suggested that the baby was likely to develop respiratory distress syndrome, we found that in borderline cases the total amount of lecithin in the sac was of greater prognostic significance than the lecithin concentration.
ISSN:0007-1447
0959-8138
1468-5833
DOI:10.1136/bmj.2.5868.689