title: Amniotic fluid beta 2 microglobulin: correlation with L/S ratios and creatinine levels.
abstract: Beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2 m) levels were measured in amniotic fluids taken after the 32nd week of gestation. Beta 2 m levels fell continuously from 5.2 microgram/ml at the 32nd week to 3.08 microgram/ml after the 39th week of gestation. Abnormally high levels of beta 2 m were found in 12.6% of samples. There was a significant correlation between beta 2 m levels and lecithin/sphingomyelin ratios at 32 weeks of gestation and with creatinine levels at 37-38 weeks (P less than .05). Although elevated beta 2 m levels may be associated with maternal and/or fetal abnormalities, the precise relationship is not clearly established: in particular, our data do not suggest that estimation of beta 2 m levels could be of value in determining fetal maturity.
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D001609:Beta-Globulins / Q000032:analysis*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000032:analysis*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001609:Beta-Globulins; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D013109:Sphingomyelins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D003404:Creatinine