title: A comparison between the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio and the Nile blue sulphate test in the estimation of fetal maturity.
abstract: Functional fetal maturity was assessed in 72 patients by measuring in amniotic fluid the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio and the differential cell count. The correlation between these two tests is presented. Only one fetus with a lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio of 2 or more developed the respiratory distress syndrome after delivery: that was the child of a diabetic mother. The technical limitations of the lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio meant that it could not be measured in 12% of samples obtained.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007751:Labor, Induced; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000032:analysis*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D013431:Sulfates
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D013109:Sphingomyelins; D013431:Sulfates